Hysteria
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Metascore
53 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 33 Critics What's this?

User Score
6.3 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 12 Ratings

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0 out of 10
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  • Starring: Felicity Jones, Hugh Dancy, Jonathan Pryce, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Rupert Everett
  • Summary: Hysteria, a mischievously inspired romantic comedy set in the late 19th century, is based on the surprising truth of how Mortimer Granville came up with the world's first electromechanical vibrator in the name of medical science. The film stars Academy Award nominee Maggie Gyllenhaal and Hugh Dancy, alongside Jonathan Pryce, Rupert Everett and Felicity Jones. (Sony Pictures Classics)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 33
  3. Negative: 2 out of 33
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Lisa Schwarzbaum
    May 16, 2012
    91
    Whenever Rupert Everett appears as a rich fellow who distinctly does not fancy ladies, it's a hysterical history lesson of the hilarious variety.
  2. Tampa Bay Times
    Reviewed by: Steve Persall
    Jun 13, 2012
    75
    Hysteria is a one-joke movie, but when a joke is told this well, it doesn't matter.
  3. Empire
    Reviewed by: Anna Smith
    Sep 17, 2012
    60
    Lightly humorous, well performed and not nearly as smutty as you might imagine. The earth may not move, but there are tingles of pleasure along the way.
  4. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Melissa Anderson
    May 15, 2012
    30
    Proceeds as a tedious, clumsy diddle, constantly reminding viewers how much progress has been made since the Victorian era.

See all 33 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. GreatMartin
    8
    Only the British could make a film about the invention of the vibrator and indicate women having orgasms without showing couples having sex or anyone being rude, or crude, using the â… Collapse
  2. MarcDoyle
    7
    Just a fun, fun film. Rupert Everett is fantastic in a small role - his chemistry with High Dancy is excellent. It's an interesting film about women and the development of the vibrator, but it makes larger statements about the eventual women's movement. My primary issue with the film is that Maggie Gyllenhaal's character says things that a woman of her era obviously would not have. They took thoughts and statements of someone living 50 years later and stuck them in her head - which is fine, we can have a little artistic license now and then. It just felt forced and awkward here.… Expand
  3. BrianMcCritic
    7
    A well made and pretty funny movie. This is a movie I thought could be really cheesy but thankfully it hits more than it misses. I recommend you at least check this film out once.… Expand
  4. TVJerry
    6
    This fact-based film explores the birth of the vibrator. In the 1880s, women where often diagnosed with hysteria, which was treated by a doctor who masturbated them into contentment. After one popular young physician (Hugh Dancy) becomes immobilized by his overused hand, he stumbles upon the beneficial invention. It's obvious how every aspect of this story will play out after the first 10 minutes. So it's all about the execution. The direction is genteel with typical British aplomb and the performances are enjoyable. The standout is Maggie Gyllenhaal as the socially-conscious troublemaker. Overall, it's a mildly amusing, but undistinguished history lesson.… Expand

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