I Used to Be Darker

I Used to Be Darker

Directed by Matthew Porterfield

Produced by Steady Orbits, The Hamilton Film Group

201390 min5.7 / 10

A quiet, introspective coming-of-age drama about three women navigating displacement, family fracture, and the search for belonging in Baltimore.

When Taryn, a Northern Irish runaway, finds herself in trouble in Ocean City, MD, she seeks refuge with her aunt and uncle in Baltimore. But Kim and Bill have problems of their own: they’re trying to handle the end of their marriage gracefully for the sake of their daughter Abby, just home from her first year of college. A story of family revelations, looking for love and figuring out where to find it next.

Questions people ask

  • Is I Used to Be Darker sad? Yes. More sad than 88% of films.

  • Is I Used to Be Darker scary? Barely. Less frightening than 76% of films.

  • Is I Used to Be Darker violent? Barely. Less violent than 76% of films.

  • Is I Used to Be Darker easy watching? Somewhat. More comforting than 60% of films.

  • Does I Used to Be Darker end with hope? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

18/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

Conventional, and it does not land.

Rarity36

How unlike any other film this one feels

Surprise10

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love13

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Like I Used to Be Darker

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as I Used to Be Darker

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like I Used to Be Darker, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like I Used to Be Darker, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like I Used to Be Darker, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

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