Magic Hour (2026)

By: Mike Ward on Friday, June 05

NR Running Time: 80 mins

SHOULD I SEE IT?

YES

  • Katie Aselton and Daveed Diggs give emotional, committed performances.

  • Has an interesting approach to exploring grief, trauma, and matters of the heart.

  • shot in 13 days in Joshua Tree National Park, Magic Hour has some beautiful scenes and moments of stunning cinematography.

NO

  • Lacks enough narrative heft to justify being a feature film, even at 80 minutes.

  • Contains a reveal, or plot twist, which pins the film against an obstacle it simply cannot overcome.

  • The repetitiveness of this wears thin. Honestly, I do wonder how much better this would be as a tight, concise 30-minute short film.


OUR REVIEW

There are a lot of tears and emotions left on screen during Magic Hour, a film that places us in the middle of a couple in crisis as they talk, discuss, debate, and cry their way through what they are facing. While others have spoiled the twist in the film, I will do my best to maintain my promise of “no spoilers.” Though I have to say - this is truly a film that becomes near impossible to dive into without discussing the whopper it drops on audiences at almost precisely the 20-minute mark.

Though a few folks drift in and out, this is largely a two-hander of a film, co-written, directed and starring Katie Aselton as Erin, alongside co-star Daveed Diggs, who portrays Charlie. Together, they have obvious chemistry, but much of the film finds them balancing frustration with affection. Kindness and accusations go hand-in-hand. 

Until we realize what’s actually happening, this seems like a married couple on the brink, desperately in need to work things out and find each other again. They put everything into one vacation together, at a rental home in Joshua Tree National Park, owned by one of Erin’s closest friends (Brad Garrett).

Aselton and Diggs give good performances, but Magic Hour can be emotionally exhausting. Aselton, who co-wrote the film with Mark Duplass, opts for heightened emotional exchanges over subtlety, often elevating her voice and emotions in an effort to depict someone struggling to figure out her next steps. Charlie offers a steady voice, on occasion matching her tone, but largely tries to keep things calm and forward-thinking.

There are some wonderful visuals captured by DP Sarah Whelden, juxtaposing the dry, desolate, sun-dried landscape with the raw, untethered emotions on display. Aselton has a good read on how emotions tied to grief and loss can engulf every aspect of someone’s life. Erin and Charlie are grappling with things that feel unfair to both of them, make little sense, and have created a violation and a disruption in a life that Erin tells her overbearing mother, played by Sarah Sullivan, “was huge - a once-in-a-lifetime love.”

The pieces are here, but Magic Hour never fully offers enough to satisfy for a full feature-length experience. Even at roughly 80 minutes, Aselton and Duplass exhaust pretty much everything they can out of this concept well before the end credits arrive. 

Magic Hour features committed performances and an earnest exploration of grief and anguish, but relies heavily on a reveal that arrives with surprisingly little impact. I would love to have seen this play out in a tight and concise half hour, essentially as a short film. Once Aselton shows her cards, the film struggles to generate enough dramatic momentum to justify a feature-length runtime.

CAST & CREW

Starring: Katie Aselton, Daveed Diggs, Brad Garrett, Sarah Sullivan, Shangela Pierce, Sabryna Williams, Jo Lopez, Martin DeLuna Jr.

Director: Katie Aselton
Written by: Katie Aselton, Mark Duplass
Release Date: May 15, 2026
Greenwich Entertainment