Watch The Oath

The Oath, released in 2018, is a satirical black comedy film that delves into the world of politics and societal breakdown. Written and directed by Ike Barinholtz, who also stars in the movie, The Oath is set in a near-future America that is fraught with political polarization, intense social division, and distrust of the government.

The story follows the lives of a married couple, Chris (Ike Barinholtz) and Kai (Tiffany Haddish), who are preparing for Thanksgiving at their home. The tension of the upcoming presidential election is high, and the government has introduced a controversial pledge called 'The Patriot's Oath' that requires all citizens to swear loyalty to the President. Chris, who is an ardent critic of the government and its policies, is vehemently opposed to taking the oath. But his family, including his conservative parents (played by veteran actress Nora Dunn and Chris Ellis ) who are supporters of the President, are eager to sign it. As the day progresses, the arrival of Chris's younger brother Pat (John Cho) and his girlfriend Abbie (Meredith Hagner) further adds to the already fraught situation, and the family's Thanksgiving gathering takes a turn for worse when Government Agents ( Jay Duplass and Billy Magnussen) show up at their doorstep to investigate Chris's noncompliance with the Oath.

As the plot thickens, the movie delves into the characters' motivations and thought processes, portraying how people often fearfully become trapped in their own ideological bubbles, unable to break out of them even in situations of personal crisis. The themes of tribalism, misinformation, and violence that are used nowadays to divide families and friends in real life are addressed flawlessly in The Oath. The film is both witty and tense and explores how far people are willing to go to defend their beliefs, whether it is radicalism or conservatism.

The Oath is a dark comedy that aligns with the current political climate, where the ever-growing political division in society is further highlighted by external factors like social media and misinformation. The movie cleverly uses this reality and gives its audience a glimpse of the possible future that can be disastrous if we continue to ignore the situation. The film does not try to be preachy or take sides; instead, it shows how the dystopia formed within the four walls of a single household can reflect the state of the nation as a whole.

The casting for the movie is excellent, and every actor has done justice to their respective characters, with Tiffany Haddish and Ike Barinholtz leading the pack brilliantly. Haddish's performance as a woman caught in between her husband's beliefs and the divide within her own family is profound, and Barinholtz's portrayal of a man fighting for his constitutional rights with increasing desperation, and eventually quite literally, is commendable.

The Oath is one of those movies that keeps you hooked from start to finish. It provides a humorous yet chilling look at the state of American politics and raises important questions about the future of democracy. The film has a tight 93 minutes runtime, and at no point does it feel stretched or dull. It is attention-grabbing, with a unique storyline and approach that sets it apart from other films in the comedy genre. In certain ways, this movie captured the reality of America, where every belief and ideology is either radical or orthodox, leading to political abysses which fail to unite people.

In conclusion, The Oath is a must-watch movie testament to our times that drew raves-but-not-big-bucks when it debuted. It is clever, poignant, and darkly hilarious. It fearlessly shines a light on the gaping ideological chasm in our country, illustrating the absurdity of our hyper-partisan world. The movie delivers a crucial message with much-needed humor and absurdity, making it a worthy watch and a conversation starter.

The Oath is a 2018 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.6 and a MetaScore of 58.