IMDb 4.7 2018 HD

The Unexpected Race

The Unexpected Race

2018
Drama
92 min NR USA
4.7 IMDB

A young woman named Amber is sent to live with her father who she hasn't seen in over 10 years after suffering a car accident that takes the…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Steven Walters / Stephen Groo
Starring
Sariah Hopkin / Clint Pulver / Ruel Brown / Jack Black / Jared Hess / Stephen Joseph Groo / Bob Richardson / Tyson Riskas

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

poignant unusual dramatic romantic fantastical melancholic intriguing heartfelt complex touching uneven curious

Reviews

I
Isabelle Moreau
Apr 11, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

In 'The Unexpected Race,' Sariah Hopkin shines as Amber, a character whose journey through grief is intertwined with a fantastical revelation. The film’s conceit—an elf in hiding pursued by the FBI—provides a unique backdrop for a story about…

A
Arthur Finch
Apr 11, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

This film presents a narrative that’s certainly ambitious, attempting to merge a story of personal trauma with a high-stakes fantasy pursuit. Sariah Hopkin’s performance as Amber is commendable, conveying a raw emotional state. The presence of an elf,…

G
Genevieve Dubois
Apr 11, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

'The Unexpected Race' offers a surprisingly poignant exploration of healing and connection through an unconventional lens. Sariah Hopkin delivers a performance brimming with vulnerability as Amber, a young woman finding solace in an unlikely companion. The narrative's strength…

M
Marcus Bellweather
Apr 11, 2026
2.5 / 5
2.5

The concept behind 'The Unexpected Race' presents a peculiar juxtaposition: a personal drama of loss and reconciliation colliding with a clandestine elf-on-the-run scenario. Sariah Hopkin shoulders the emotional weight admirably, but the film struggles to fully integrate its…

E
Eleanor Vance
Apr 11, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

Sariah Hopkin anchors 'The Unexpected Race' with a sensitive portrayal of Amber, a young woman navigating profound grief and familial distance. The film's premise, involving an elf named Lythorin pursued by the FBI, offers a curious blend of…

FAQs

Lythorin's central dilemma revolves around his very existence as the last elf, placing him in constant peril from an FBI agent. This existential threat is compounded by his developing feelings for Amber. He must ultimately decide whether to embrace a life of potential connection and love with her, or to continue his isolated existence to ensure his survival, a choice that carries immense personal weight.