What Tomorrow Brings follows the story of Clara and Ruby, two sisters navigating life and hardship when their mother leaves home to get help for a medical issue. As the mother doesn’t come home when expected, things continue to spiral as the two sisters cling to hope and to each other.
This movie’s strength was always going to be in the dynamic between Clara and Ruby, and they do have their moments. The actresses are real-life sisters and their effortless chemistry serves the film, especially in its darker scenes. Still, there are occasional lines of dialogue or interactions where it becomes clear this is a cast that is new to acting, and when in scenes with cast members like Grace Bydalek who have more of an acting resume, the difference is stark.
The script is really where this film suffers, despite a strong central premise. The voiceover gets really old fast, and there is a whole lot of dialogue just telling the audience what is happening on screen. The film hits its emotional high right before the big reveal, but the story never really feels like it’s building towards this moment. The characters wake, go to school, have a fun moment, and go to bed. Sometimes, something bad happens, and then it resolves. The gradual progression needed to keep audiences locked in is missing, and it’s a shame because this movie has a heartbreaking final act with Clara’s strongest performance by far.
From the cast to the production, this movie was the passion project of the Engelbert family. Matthew Engelbert wrote, produced and directed the film and Joely and Phoebe Engelbert are the film’s stars. Other relatives were involved with production, soundtrack, and even hair and makeup. The entire film was shot on an iPhone 15 Pro Max for an estimated budget of $150,000.
Considering this, the final film is solid. Characters speak clearly, and the film is shot well. The use of the camera’s microphone causes sound quality to falter at times, but this works for the most part. Overall, I think this film is worth watching if you’re a fan of the family drama genre. If you’re not, you may find the cons outweigh the moments you enjoy.
What Tomorrow Brings premieres on digital platforms on July 24, 2026.
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