Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

C.O.G. (2013) movie poster

Characters & Themes

C.O.G. (2013) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2013 · 88 min · English
JustWatch #8,062 15
Directed by
Kyle Patrick Alvarez
Starring
Jonathan Groff, Corey Stoll, Dale Dickey, Dean Stockwell, Casey Wilson, Denis O'Hare

A young man, feeling lost and disconnected from city life, leaves everything behind to find peace and purpose on a rural farm. Through hard work and unexpected encounters, he grapples with personal challenges and begins a journey of self-discovery. He confronts aspects of his identity and finds an unexpected sense of belonging in the quiet simplicity of the countryside.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (3)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like C.O.G.
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch C.O.G. (2013)

Where can you watch C.O.G.? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on fuboTV, Fawesome and Kanopy: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

Streaming availability powered by JustWatch

3 main characters · contains spoilers

C.O.G. Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of C.O.G. (2013), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • David (Samuel)

    David, who adopts the name Samuel, is a graduate student searching for meaning beyond academia. He grapples with feelings of isolation and disconnection from his past life and relationships. His journey is marked by self-exploration and a challenge to his preconceived notions about faith and friendship.

    • 🌍 Journey
    • 🤔 Identity
  • Jon

    Jon is an artist and a believer who provides a contrasting perspective to David's skepticism. Living a humble life in the basement of church members, he highlights the transformative impact of faith while navigating his own past. His creativity and openness ultimately challenge David's views.

    • 🎨 Art
    • 🙏 Spirituality
  • Curly

    Curly is one of David's co-workers who initially seems like a potential friend. However, he harbors a secret that complicates their budding friendship. His character illustrates the idea of hidden struggles beneath friendly exteriors, and he adds depth to the workplace dynamic.

    • 🤫 Secrets
    • 👨‍🌾 Work

Last updated: December 24, 2024 at 10:03

Was this helpful?

Setting

Where and When Does C.O.G. Take Place?

The setting of C.O.G. (2013): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

The film presents a contemporary setting, reflecting modern societal issues and personal quests for identity and meaning. It explores themes of disconnection in a fast-paced world, capturing the struggles of young adults seeking purpose.

Location

Oregon

Oregon is known for its diverse landscape, featuring lush forests, mountains, and a strong agricultural presence. The state is famous for its apple orchards, which serve as a backdrop for the film. The story unfolds in a community where local residents seem detached from the agricultural work, creating a unique social dynamic.

  • 🏞️ Nature
  • 🍏 Agriculture

Last updated: December 24, 2024 at 10:03

Was this helpful?

3 major themes

C.O.G. Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is C.O.G. (2013) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Self-Discovery

    The theme of self-discovery is prevalent as David seeks to redefine himself away from the pressures of graduate school. His journey to Oregon symbolizes a quest for personal growth and understanding, challenging his beliefs and relationships along the way.

  • Friendship

    Friendship plays a crucial role as David navigates his relationships with his co-workers, particularly with Jon and Curly. These interactions reveal the complexities of human connection, language barriers, and the desire for companionship in a new environment.

  • Faith

    Faith is a significant theme as David encounters Jon, who represents a different path focused on spirituality. The tension between David's skepticism towards religion and the transformative power of faith in others creates a compelling exploration of belief and purpose.

Last updated: December 24, 2024 at 10:03

Was this helpful?

Character & theme questions

C.O.G. Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about C.O.G. (2013): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is the movie set?

The movie takes place in Oregon, specifically in a rural agricultural area known for its apple orchards. The setting features lush forests and mountains, creating a peaceful countryside environment that contrasts with the protagonist's inner turmoil.

  • oregon
  • setting
  • location
  • apple orchards
  • rural
Q2

What is the main setting like?

The story unfolds on a rural farm in Oregon, where the protagonist works among apple orchards. The community has a unique social dynamic where residents seem detached from the agricultural work around them, creating an atmosphere of isolation and contemplation.

  • farm
  • orchard
  • rural
  • countryside
  • nature
Q3

What time period does the film take place in?

The film has a contemporary setting, reflecting modern societal issues and personal quests for identity. It captures the struggles of young adults in today's world who feel disconnected and seek purpose beyond traditional expectations.

  • contemporary
  • modern
  • time period
  • present day
Q4

What are the main themes in the film?

The film explores three primary themes: self-discovery, friendship, and faith. These interconnected themes examine how individuals navigate personal growth, human connection, and spiritual beliefs while searching for meaning in a complex world.

  • themes
  • self-discovery
  • friendship
  • faith
  • meaning
Q5

What does the self-discovery theme explore?

The self-discovery theme follows David as he leaves graduate school to redefine himself away from academic pressures. His journey to Oregon symbolizes a quest for personal growth, challenging his beliefs and forcing him to confront his identity and purpose.

  • self-discovery
  • identity
  • personal growth
  • journey
Q6

How is faith portrayed in the movie?

Faith emerges as David encounters Jon, who represents a different path focused on spirituality. The tension between David's skepticism toward religion and the transformative power of faith in others creates a compelling exploration of belief, doubt, and purpose.

  • faith
  • religion
  • spirituality
  • belief
  • skepticism
Q7

How does the film handle friendship?

Friendship plays a crucial role as David navigates relationships with co-workers, particularly Jon and Curly. These interactions reveal the complexities of human connection, language barriers, and the deep desire for companionship in an unfamiliar environment.

  • friendship
  • relationships
  • connection
  • companionship
Q8

Who is the main character David?

David, who adopts the name Samuel, is a graduate student searching for meaning beyond academia. He grapples with feelings of isolation and disconnection from his past life, embarking on a journey of self-exploration that challenges his preconceived notions about faith and friendship.

  • david
  • samuel
  • protagonist
  • main character
  • graduate student
Q9

Who is Jon and what role does he play?

Jon is an artist and a believer who provides a contrasting perspective to David's skepticism. Living a humble life in the basement of church members, he represents the transformative impact of faith while navigating his own past. His openness and creativity ultimately challenge David's worldview.

  • jon
  • artist
  • believer
  • faith
  • character
Q10

Who is Curly and what is his significance?

Curly is one of David's co-workers who initially appears to be a potential friend. However, he harbors a secret that complicates their budding friendship, illustrating hidden struggles beneath friendly exteriors and adding depth to the workplace dynamic.

  • curly
  • co-worker
  • workplace
  • hidden struggles
Q11

What is the overall tone of the movie?

The film has a melancholic tone, established by the protagonist's loneliness and his grappling with deep personal questions. The pacing is slow and reflective, focusing on internal conflict over external plot. The tranquil countryside setting creates a striking contrast with David's internal turmoil.

  • tone
  • atmosphere
  • melancholy
  • mood
  • emotional
Q12

Why is the Oregon setting important to the story?

The Oregon setting is crucial because it represents David's escape from urban disconnection to a place of potential renewal. The quiet simplicity of the countryside provides the backdrop for his internal journey, allowing him to confront who he truly is away from the pressures of his previous life.

  • oregon
  • countryside
  • setting importance
  • escape
  • renewal

Movie threads

More Movies Like C.O.G., by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes C.O.G. tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Introspective self-discovery journeys like in C.O.G.

Quiet stories of characters who wander to find their place and purpose. If you liked the quiet, searching journey in C.O.G., you'll find similar movies here. These films focus on characters grappling with identity and purpose, often through solitary travels or retreats. They share a meditative, character-driven pace and a focus on personal growth over dramatic plot.

  • introspective
  • searching
  • lonely
  • contemplative
  • uncertain
  • gritty
  • Tone: melancholic, contemplative
  • Pacing: slow, reflective
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically center on a protagonist feeling disconnected or lost, who voluntarily or involuntarily enters a new environment. The narrative unfolds through their interactions with a new community and their internal reflections, leading to an ambiguous or open-ended resolution that emphasizes the process of seeking over a neat conclusion.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together because they share a core focus on the protagonist's internal quest. They prioritize mood and character development over complex plotting, creating a contemplative and often melancholic viewing experience centered on universal questions of 'who am I?' and 'where do I belong?'

Melancholic rural character studies like C.O.G.

Character-driven dramas set in the quiet tension of the countryside. For viewers who appreciated the rural Oregon setting and contemplative mood of C.O.G., this section features similar movies. These dramas use the countryside not as a backdrop but as an active element that shapes lonely, introspective stories about personal challenges and fragile human bonds.

  • contemplative
  • gritty
  • lonely
  • rural
  • atmospheric
  • introspective
  • Tone: melancholic, gritty
  • Pacing: slow, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a protagonist, often an outsider, arriving in a rural community. The story explores the friction and eventual connection between the character and their environment, using the slow rhythm of rural life to amplify internal conflicts. The plots are often episodic, built around encounters that test and reveal the character's nature.

Why they belong together: These films share a specific atmospheric blend: a slow, deliberate pace; a melancholic or bittersweet tone; and a setting where the rural landscape contributes to a feeling of isolation and introspection. The similarity comes from this cohesive vibe rather than a specific plot formula.

If you liked this

Movies Like C.O.G.

Similar movies to C.O.G.: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

C.O.G. (2013) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about C.O.G. in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app