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Emergency (2022 film)

Emergency is a 2022 American thriller comedy-drama film directed by Carey Williams and written by K.D.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Emergency is a 2022 American thriller comedy-drama film directed by Carey Williams and written by K.D. Dávila. It follows three college students who must decide whether to call the police after finding an unconscious young woman in their home, a situation that complicates their friendship and sense of safety.

Plot

The film follows three college roommates whose plans for a night out are disrupted when they discover an unconscious young woman in their home. Their attempt to help her without involving the police creates escalating tension and forces them to confront issues of race, fear, and responsibility.

Production

Emergency was directed by Carey Williams and written by K.D. Dávila. It expands on their 2018 short film of the same name.

Release

The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2022. It received a theatrical release in May 2022 and was later made available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video later that month.

Reception

The film was widely described as a blend of comedy, thriller, and social commentary. Coverage noted its focus on friendship, race, and the risks faced by the lead characters.

Key facts

  • The film is based on a 2018 short film by Carey Williams and K.D. Dávila.
  • Its story centres on three college students confronting an emergency involving an unconscious woman.
  • The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2022.
  • It was released theatrically in May 2022 and later made available on Amazon Prime Video.
  • The cast includes RJ Cyler, Donald Elise Watkins, Sebastian Chacon, Sabrina Carpenter, and Maddie Nichols.
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Canadian context

The film received international attention through festival coverage and streaming availability, making it accessible to Canadian viewers through major online platforms.

Frequently asked questions

What is Emergency (2022 film) about?
It follows three college students who find an unconscious woman in their home and must decide how to help her without involving the police.
Who directed Emergency?
Emergency was directed by Carey Williams.
Who wrote Emergency?
K.D. Dávila wrote the screenplay.
Is Emergency based on another film?
Yes. It is based on a 2018 short film of the same name by Carey Williams and K.D. Dávila.
When was Emergency released?
It premiered at Sundance in January 2022 and was released in theatres in May 2022, with streaming on Amazon Prime Video later that month.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_(2022_film)
    Supports: Director, writer, premise, and basis in the 2018 short film.
  2. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/emergency-movie-review-2022
    Supports: Plot description, tonal blend, and the film's Sundance context.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13650600/
    Supports: Runtime, release year, genre, cast, and basic premise.
  4. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/emergency_2022
    Supports: Director and rating information.
  5. Variety — https://variety.com/2022/film/reviews/emergency-review-sundance-film-festival-1235158883/
    Supports: Sundance premiere and thematic description.