Coming Down (1997)
A raw British short film capturing the bleary, intimate hours after a night of clubbing, drugs, and rave culture.
Coming Down - Movie Information
Coming Down - Plot
A group of friends come to Gary's flat after a hard night's clubbing, take more drugs and chill out until the next morning.
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Coming Down - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Matt Winn
Main Cast
- Tony Curran
- Lisa Harkus
- Julian Kerridge
- Darren Tighe
- Sheila Whitfield
Writers
- Ellis Freeman
- Matt Winn
Coming Down - FAQs
What is Coming Down about?
Coming Down follows a group of friends who head back to Gary's flat after a long night out clubbing. Rather than calling it a night, they keep the party going with more drugs, drifting through conversations and comedowns until the morning light finally arrives. It's a raw, intimate snapshot of rave-era British youth culture.
Who are the main actors in Coming Down?
The cast features Tony Curran as Gary, Lisa Harkus as Stella, Julian Kerridge as Simon, Darren Tighe as Jason, and Sheila Whitfield as Rachel. Tony Curran, who plays the flat's host, would go on to become a recognisable face in British film and television.
Is Coming Down based on a true story?
Coming Down isn't based on a specific true story, but it draws heavily from the lived experience of British rave culture in the 1990s. Writers Ellis Freeman and Matt Winn crafted a scenario that felt authentic to a generation shaped by ecstasy, all-night clubs, and the particular intimacy of post-rave comedowns.
How long is Coming Down?
Coming Down runs for 29 minutes, making it a short film. Despite its brief runtime, it manages to capture a full emotional arc — from the buzzing energy of friends arriving after a night out to the quieter, more reflective mood that settles in as morning approaches.
What does Coming Down capture about rave culture?
The film zeroes in on the aftermath of a night out — the comedown itself — rather than the rave. It explores the strange intimacy that drugs and exhaustion create between people, the conversations that feel profound at 6am, and the bittersweet feeling of a night slowly dissolving into ordinary daylight.
Who directed and wrote Coming Down?
Coming Down was directed by Matt Winn, who also co-wrote the screenplay alongside Ellis Freeman. The film was produced under Virgin Records and released in the United Kingdom in 1997, positioning it firmly within the mid-90s wave of British films engaging with club and rave culture.
What are similar films to Coming Down?
If Coming Down resonated with you, films like Artificial Paradises (2012), Big Time Adolescence (2020), Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics (2020), and Love You More (2008) explore similar territory around youth, drugs, and altered states. Ken Park (2003) and XOXO (2016) also share thematic ground.
What genre is Coming Down?
Coming Down blends Comedy and Drama, landing in the territory of slice-of-life British short filmmaking. It leans into the darkly comic rhythms of a group of friends navigating a drug-fuelled night's end, balancing moments of genuine warmth and humour with the more melancholic undertones of the comedown experience.
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