The 2013 film Coherence, directed by James Ward Byrkit, is a gripping low-budget sci-fi thriller that explores the nature of reality, identity, and the consequences of our choices. While presented as a mind-bending story about parallel universes, Coherence carries profound spiritual and philosophical themes about perception, free will, and the illusion of control. At its core, the film is a meditation on the fragility of existence and the idea that reality is far more fluid than we perceive.
One of the central spiritual themes in Coherence is the multiverse as a metaphor for human choice and karma. As a group of friends gathers for a dinner party on the night of an astronomical anomaly, they unknowingly begin slipping between alternate realities, encountering versions of themselves who have made different choices. This reflects the spiritual concept that every decision we make creates ripples, potentially shaping multiple versions of our existence. In Hinduism and Buddhism, karma suggests that our actions continuously shape our destiny, and Coherence presents a physical manifestation of this idea—where the characters are literally confronted with the consequences of different life paths.
Another profound theme in the film is the illusion of self and identity. As the characters begin to realize that multiple versions of themselves exist, the question arises: what truly makes us us? If consciousness can shift between realities, does identity remain fixed, or is it something fluid? This aligns with the spiritual teachings of anatta (the Buddhist doctrine of no-self), which suggests that the self is an illusion, constantly shifting based on circumstances and perception. The film forces both its characters and its audience to question whether the person they believe themselves to be is simply the result of their current environment, rather than an intrinsic truth.
The film also explores the fear of the unknown and attachment to control. The characters, when confronted with the reality that they are not unique but one of infinite possibilities, respond with panic, distrust, and selfishness. This mirrors the human tendency to resist change and cling to a singular sense of reality, even when evidence suggests that existence is more complex. Many spiritual traditions teach that enlightenment requires surrendering the illusion of control and accepting the vast, interconnected nature of reality. In Coherence, those who resist and try to control their circumstances only descend further into chaos, while those who accept the situation begin to see it with greater clarity.
Another key spiritual element in the film is the idea that awareness changes reality. In quantum mechanics, the observer effect suggests that simply observing a phenomenon alters its outcome. Similarly, the moment the characters become aware of the multiverse, they begin shifting between realities at an accelerated rate. This reflects the spiritual principle that consciousness is not passive but actively shapes the world around us. The film raises the question: if perception is fluid, and reality is defined by awareness, how much of what we experience is created by our own minds?
Ultimately, Coherence is more than just a sci-fi thriller—it is a meditation on existence, choice, and the fragile nature of reality. It challenges viewers to question whether they are living in the "right" version of their lives and whether identity is something fixed or something constantly shifting. By blending quantum mechanics with existential philosophy, Coherence leaves audiences reflecting on the unsettling yet profound realization that reality, like identity, may be far less stable than we think.
