Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Rememory (2017) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Rememory (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 111 min · English
Echo score 53
JustWatch #20,815 2
Directed by
Mark Palansky
Starring
Peter Dinklage, Anton Yelchin, Martin Donovan, Julia Ormond, Andrew Herr, Carrie Fleming

Following the unexpected death of pioneering scientist Gordon Dunn, his grieving wife struggles to cope with the loss. An enigmatic investigator arrives, offering to use an experimental technology to extract and view Gordon's memories. As he delves deeper into the scientist's past, the investigator becomes entangled in a complex web of secrets and intrigue, uncovering a disturbing truth that puts him in grave danger and challenges his own sense of reality.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (4)
  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 Rememory
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Rememory (2017)

Where can you watch Rememory? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Philo, Starz and YouTube Free: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

Streaming availability powered by JustWatch

4 main characters · contains spoilers

Rememory Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Rememory (2017), 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.

  • Sam Bloom (Peter Dinklage)

    Sam Bloom is a deeply introspective character driven by curiosity and the desire to reconnect with his deceased brother's memories. His transformation into an amateur detective highlights his resilience and determination to uncover the truth, yet he is haunted by guilt over past events.

    • 🧠 Memory
    • 🕵️‍♂️ Detective
    • 💔 Grief
  • Gordon Dunn (Martin Donovan)

    Gordon Dunn, a psychologist, is at the center of the film's mystery. His pioneering work with memory technology offers a glimpse into the complexities of human experience, while his untimely death raises questions about his relationships and the emotional scars left behind.

    • 🔬 Technology
    • 🏺 Legacy
    • 🔍 Mystery
  • Carolyn Dunn (Julia Ormond)

    Carolyn Dunn is a woman caught in the web of her husband's secrets. As she navigates her grief and finds solace in shared memories with Sam, her character reflects the pain of loss and the struggle to find closure amidst turmoil.

    • 💔 Grief
    • 💔 Loss
    • 💭 Reflection
  • Todd (Anton Yelchin)

    Todd is a test patient who becomes a crucial part of Sam's investigation. His experiences and memories related to Dunn's final moments offer valuable insights but also expose the emotional toll of confronting painful recollections.

    • 📜 Memories
    • 💔 Loss
    • 😔 Awareness

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:20

Was this helpful?

Setting

Where and When Does Rememory Take Place?

The setting of Rememory (2017): 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 movie unfolds in a contemporary setting, reflecting modern technological advancements that allow memory recollection and exploration. The character dynamics and emotional struggles resonate with current societal themes of grief and loss.

Location

local bar, Gordon Dunn's office

The local bar serves as a backdrop for pivotal moments between Sam and his brother, showcasing a vibrant atmosphere overshadowed by tragedy. Gordon Dunn's office, a significant location, becomes a site of mystery and tension, where key events unfold, including his murder that propels Sam into detective work.

  • 🏙️ City
  • 📍 Location

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:20

Was this helpful?

3 major themes

Rememory Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Rememory (2017) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Memory

    Memory plays a central role in the narrative, driving Sam's quest to revisit the past and understand the truth behind the tragedy that impacted his life. The exploration of memories reveals deeper connections and the complexities of human relationships, emphasizing how memories shape our identity.

  • Mystery

    The unfolding mystery surrounding Gordon Dunn's murder creates a gripping atmosphere, plunging Sam into the role of an amateur detective. As he uses the memory device to piece together the narrative, the story explores themes of truth, deception, and the lengths one will go to uncover the past.

  • Grief

    Grief is an underlying theme that permeates the film, as characters grapple with the loss of loved ones and unresolved emotional pain. Sam's journey is not just about uncovering the truth but also about confronting his own guilt and finding catharsis through shared experiences of sorrow.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:20

Was this helpful?

Character & theme questions

Rememory Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Rememory (2017): 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

What is the memory extraction technology in Rememory?

The film centers on an experimental device that can extract and visualize a person's memories. Gordon Dunn, a psychologist, pioneered this technology, which allows others to view recorded memories like a holographic replay. This technology drives the investigation and becomes the key to uncovering the truth behind Dunn's death.

  • memory device
  • gordon dunn
  • memory extraction
  • technology
Q2

Who is Sam Bloom in Rememory?

Sam Bloom is a curious, introspective man who becomes an amateur detective after his brother dies. Played by Peter Dinklage, Sam uses the memory technology to investigate Gordon Dunn's murder. He is driven by a desire to reconnect with his brother's memories while confronting his own guilt over past events.

  • sam bloom
  • peter dinklage
  • investigator
  • amateur detective
Q3

Who was Gordon Dunn and what was his profession?

Gordon Dunn was a psychologist and pioneering scientist who developed the memory extraction technology. His groundbreaking work with memory recording made him a central figure in the story, though his untimely death raises questions about his relationships and the consequences of his inventions.

  • gordon dunn
  • psychologist
  • scientist
  • memory technology
Q4

Where is Rememory primarily set?

The film takes place in a modern city setting. Key locations include Gordon Dunn's office, where the memory technology is housed and the murder occurs, and a local bar that serves as a backdrop for important moments between Sam and other characters.

  • city setting
  • gordon dunn office
  • local bar
  • locations
Q5

When is Rememory set?

Rememory is set in a contemporary, modern-day setting. The film reflects current technological advancements in memory exploration, and the character dynamics explore present-day themes of grief, loss, and the implications of memory technology.

  • contemporary
  • modern day
  • time period
  • setting
Q6

What role does memory play in the film?

Memory is the central theme of Rememory. The narrative explores how memories shape identity, reveal hidden truths, and connect people across loss. Sam's quest to access his brother's memories drives the investigation, revealing deeper complexities in human relationships and the emotional weight of preserving or releasing memories.

  • memory
  • identity
  • memories shape identity
  • recollection
Q7

How does Rememory explore grief?

Grief permeates the film as characters confront loss and unresolved emotional pain. Both Sam and Carolyn Dunn struggle with the death of loved ones, and the film portrays grief as a journey toward catharsis through confronting painful memories. The story emphasizes how shared sorrow and the act of remembering can either heal or haunt.

  • grief
  • loss
  • death
  • sorrow
  • emotional pain
Q8

What is the central mystery in Rememory?

The mystery centers on the murder of Gordon Dunn and the truth behind his death. As Sam investigates using the memory device, he uncovers a web of secrets that challenges his sense of reality and reveals disturbing truths about the people closest to Dunn.

  • murder mystery
  • gordon dunn death
  • investigation
  • secrets
Q9

Who is Carolyn Dunn in Rememory?

Carolyn Dunn is the widow of Gordon Dunn, played by Julia Ormond. She is navigating her grief while dealing with her husband's secrets. Her character represents the pain of loss and the struggle to find closure, and she finds an unexpected connection with Sam through their shared grief.

  • carolyn dunn
  • julia ormond
  • widow
  • grief
Q10

Who is Todd in the film?

Todd is a test patient who participated in Gordon Dunn's memory technology experiments. He becomes crucial to Sam's investigation because his memories contain valuable insights about Dunn's final moments, though confronting these painful recollections takes an emotional toll on him.

  • todd
  • anton yelchin
  • test patient
  • memory device
Q11

What is the tone and emotional weight of Rememory?

Rememory has a melancholic tone driven by themes of unresolved grief, suicide, and pervasive loss. The film maintains steady investigative tension throughout, but its emotional weight is heavy, dealing directly with death and traumatic memories. The ending is bittersweet, offering symbolic closure through the release of memory discs into the ocean.

  • melancholic tone
  • bittersweet
  • grief
  • emotional weight
  • ending

Movie threads

More Movies Like Rememory, by Mood & Story

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

Movies where technology reveals trauma like in Rememory

Where scientific devices uncover painful truths about the human psyche. If you liked Rememory, explore more movies where sci-fi concepts are used to investigate psychological wounds. These films often blend mystery and drama, focusing on the heavy emotional weight of uncovering buried truths through experimental means, resulting in bittersweet or melancholic endings.

  • psychological
  • investigative
  • grieving
  • tense
  • melancholic
  • thought-provoking
  • Tone: melancholic, introspective, tense
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread follow an investigator or protagonist who uses a unique technological device to access memories or hidden truths. The investigation is less about solving a crime and more about confronting profound human suffering, often revealing a shared tragedy that implicates the investigator personally.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here because they share a core pattern: a speculative tech premise serves as a gateway to exploring heavy themes like grief and psychological trauma. They combine a steady, investigative pace with a melancholic tone and a focus on character-driven emotional revelation rather than physical action.

Bittersweet movies about grief and closure like Rememory

Somber journeys through loss that find a fragile, symbolic peace. Find more movies like Rememory that deal deeply with grief, loss, and the search for peace. These poignant stories often feature melancholic tones, heavy emotional weight, and bittersweet endings where characters find a way to carry their loss without being completely destroyed by it.

  • grieving
  • melancholic
  • sorrowful
  • introspective
  • heavy
  • bittersweet
  • Tone: melancholic, sorrowful, bittersweet
  • Pacing: steady, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern revolves around a central, unresolved loss that haunts the protagonist. The journey is internal, focusing on coping with guilt and sorrow. The climax is often not an external victory but an internal shift—a symbolic act or realization that allows the character to acknowledge their pain and find a way to live with it, resulting in a bittersweet conclusion.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their shared commitment to portraying grief with emotional authenticity and weight. They are defined by a melancholic, introspective mood, a steady pace that allows for deep character immersion, and an ending that prioritizes nuanced emotional truth over simplistic happiness or despair.

If you liked this

Movies Like Rememory

Similar movies to Rememory: 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

Rememory (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Rememory 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