70
Metascore
9 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 84Paste MagazineNatalia KeoganPaste MagazineNatalia KeoganTethered closely to the emotions and artistic sensibilities of the tight-knit family that created it, Hellbender is a can’t-miss foray into folk horror. Unabashedly creepy yet perplexingly comforting, it will inevitably remind audiences of the most eccentric aspects of our upbringings.
- 80Screen RantFerdosa AbdiScreen RantFerdosa AbdiFrom beginning to end, Hellbender is an impressive, at times shocking, and enthralling triumph.
- 75The A.V. ClubKatie RifeThe A.V. ClubKatie RifeIf there’s a lesson to be taken from Hellbender, it’s this: Underestimate the small and unassuming at your own peril—whether that be the character of Izzy, the film’s real-life creators, or the movie itself.
- 75RogerEbert.comBrian TallericoRogerEbert.comBrian TallericoLike “The Deeper You Dig,” Hellbender gets better as it gets more surreal, but this one has a nice balance to the out-there imagery in Zelda’s grounded, coming-of-age performance. I love the movies she’s making with her family, but I’d also really like to see what she could do with another director too. She’s got the range and potential.
- 75The Film StageJared MobarakThe Film StageJared MobarakWhile there’s always a humorous slant to proceedings (kudos to Shawn Wilson’s endearingly pure park ranger), that edge of danger is where it excels.
- 70IGNKristy PuchkoIGNKristy PuchkoHellbender, a coming-of-age movie from a family that’s built their own indie horror house, is a captivating, smart, and delightfully witchy tale.
- 63Movie NationRoger MooreMovie NationRoger MooreThe acting can feel flat and unpolished, and the intimacy of the story is both an asset and a limitation to its ambitions. But any horror fan looking for the next “came out of nowhere” genre phenomenon need look no further. It’s not the “Citizen Kane” of witch movies, but it’s creepy and DIY fun and well worth tracking down.
- 60The GuardianLeslie FelperinThe GuardianLeslie FelperinAlthough made on a tiny budget, this highly original exercise in folk horror punches well above its weight with snappy dialogue, trippy visual effects and impressive camerawork.
- 60The New York TimesLena WilsonThe New York TimesLena WilsonWhile the result is a mostly-compelling tale of matriarchal megalomania, occasionally this group composition feels more like a jumble.