Where Did the Adults Go?
September 7th, 2026
MOVIE: WHERE DID THE ADULTS GO?
STARRING: CAREY COX, AMADEUS SERAFINI, CARSON MACCORMAC
DIRECTED BY: COURTNEY MARSH
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 3 STARS (Out of 4)
RATED: PG-13
RUN TIME: 89 MINUTES
The complexities in writer/director Courtney Marsh’s Where Did the Adults Go? are the kind that come to fruition within a family. They live in its history, in the words exchanged over the years, and the harsh realities that surround brothers and sisters from the moment their parents bring them into the world. Shaking away those complexities is never possible, but Marsh is committed to exploring how we live with them and find happiness amid the chaos. Capturing that catharsis is easier said than done, but Marsh has crafted an emotional and poignant drama in Where Did the Adults Go?, examining the wounds of a family and the complicated effort required to heal them.
There are three central characters. Cynthia (Carey Cox) is the oldest child and only daughter, born with a disability that affects her ability to walk. Bryce (Amadeus Serafini), the middle child, is jaded and stubborn, financially successful but constantly compensating for a deep lack of confidence. Last in line is Miles (Carson MacCormac), still in his late twenties and the sibling who benefited most from the support of everyone around him. The three have gathered for the anniversary of their parents’ deaths, and during this reunion, they must decide what to do with the family home: sell it to help provide for Cynthia’s needs or keep it in the family for future generations. What should be a practical decision becomes an emotional battleground for a broken family attempting to find its way back together.
The setting and tone of Where Did the Adults Go? are established immediately through Marsh’s writing. Her dialogue has a unique quality, sounding natural and realistic without feeling overly polished or constructed. For Marsh’s first feature, much of the story consists of placing two characters in a room and allowing them to engage in long, heated conversations. Yet the film rarely slips into melodrama. Instead, Marsh understands that the most painful family arguments are often not really about the subject being discussed. The house may be the immediate concern, but underneath it are years of resentment, guilt, jealousy, and unresolved grief. The screenplay gradually reveals how each sibling has been affected differently by the loss of their parents and how their individual circumstances shape their motivations in the fight.
The strength of the writing is matched by the performances, which carry the emotional weight of this intimate production. Carey Cox gives Cynthia a quiet strength that prevents the character from ever being defined solely by her disability. Amadeus Serafini delivers a necessary edge to Bryce, arguably the most difficult personality in the family. Carson MacCormac, meanwhile, brings a different energy to Miles, capturing the character’s immaturity without making him seem childish. This allows the audience to understand that being the sibling everyone assumes had it easiest comes with its own complicated expectations. Together, the three actors create the believable history of people who have spent their entire lives knowing exactly which buttons to push.
Although the writing and performances are strong, the one weakness in Where Did the Adults Go? is that it occasionally feels incomplete. At 89 minutes, the story seems to lack a traditional third act, though its absence of complete resolution could also be interpreted as one of the film’s strengths. After all, family dysfunction rarely ends with a single conversation or a perfectly wrapped conclusion. What becomes evident early on is that Marsh works well within compact storytelling and fully understands how to draw emotional depth from limited characters and locations. One only wishes she trusted those instincts all the way through.
In the end, Where Did the Adults Go? works as both a compelling drama and a thoughtful examination of sibling dynamics. Films such as Hannah and Her Sisters, Rachel Getting Married, and Marvin’s Room come to mind, but Marsh proves she has a voice of her own and something meaningful to say about the difficulties that come with family. Is it better to have the conflict? Is it easier to be an only child? Sometimes it is easier to remain the kid, but eventually, we all become adults, whether we want to or not.
3 STARS
WHERE DID THE ADULTS GO? IS NOW AVAILABLE TO RENT ON APPLE TV, AMAZON PRIME, AND KINEMA.
Written by: Leo Brady
