Screamers
Metascore
55 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 15 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 15
  3. Negative: 1 out of 15
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  1. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Elizabeth Weitzman
    75
    Fans are, obviously, most likely to appreciate the concert footage that's woven throughout the film. But the most powerful moments come offstage, when we see young audience members burn with the fresh outrage of the newly enlightened.
  2. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Ken Fox
    75
    The Armenian-American quartet have taken it upon themselves to teach their fans about what happened to their families in that now-forgotten time, a deeply personal mission that has proven effective in politicizing their audiences.
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Owen Gleiberman
    75
    The film offers true insight into the patterns of war crimes, even if the songs sound disquietingly close to a call to violence.
  4. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Luke Y. Thompson
    70
    So many documentaries about genocides play art-house theaters that it can be easy to get jaded, but combining one with tour footage from the most innovative metal band in the world is genius, banging the viewer's head before he realizes it's being filled with awareness too.
  5. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Michael Ordona
    70
    The piece is intelligently made, although the director often doesn't establish place or time, leaving the viewer unmoored.
  6. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Richard Leiby
    70
    The film paraphrases a quote from Hitler before he invaded Poland in 1939 (a quote still in hot dispute): "Who still speaks nowadays of the extermination of the Armenians?" This documentary does. Whatever its flaws, that alone makes it worth seeing.
  7. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Wesley Morris
    63
    This film has provocations to spare; it just hasn't been made provocatively. It's a mess, actually.
  8. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Richard James Havis
    60
    A committed piece of agit-prop, which benefits from the passion of its protagonists. Followers of the band will need no introduction to the subject matter, which is referenced in their musical repertoire. The film also should play well with those interested in liberal causes.
  9. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Jeannette Catsoulis
    60
    Part rockumentary, part howl of outrage, Screamers would have benefited from less concert film and more historical background.
  10. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Michael Wilmington
    50
    A commendably brave piece, but less focused and powerful than you'd like. In the end, Garapedian might have been better off concentrating her energy on the 1915 Armenian story--which has been told on film various times (for example, in "Forty Days of Musa Dagh" and Atom Egoyan's "Ararat"), but never with the power of, say, "The Pianist" or "Schindler's List."
  11. The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
    Reviewed by: Stephen Cole
    50
    If this sounds intriguing, we should add that System of a Down is a lousy live band. And director Garapedian, for all her public-minded zeal, isn't capable of corralling her interviews and opinions into a coherent polemic.
  12. Variety
    Reviewed by: Peter Debruge
    50
    A noble cause does not a good movie make. Pic repeatedly drowns its impassioned message with music, creating an awkward hybrid between history lesson and concert documentary.
  13. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Peter Margasak
    50
    Most of the screen time goes to American-Armenian hard rock band System of a Down, whose grating concert footage trivializes Garapedian's message.
  14. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Noel Murray
    50
    The band is sincere, and many of its followers are just as sincere, but there's always a danger that too much "screaming" can turn a meaningful statement into an inarticulate din.
  15. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Kyle Smith
    12
    Screamers, one of the most bizarre documentaries you'll ever not see.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.3 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 8 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. GregK.
    9
    An important topic for a documentary, but not a Rockumentary. While I suppose that this is an effective vehicle for reaching System of a Down fans, it is so colloquial that is fails to build necessary bridges to a MAINSTREAM audience. The incessant use of the F-bomb make the film not family friendly and not Christian friendly. The juvenalian style makes it unappealing for grown-ups. The Leftist slant will make it hard to digest for political moderates and conservatives (which should be the greatest natural allies of the Genocide Recognition cause). And finally, the movie has to focus on GENOCIDE, not System of a Down. Had the move edit been down slightly differently, the film would have been a smash hit, appealing to everyone, offending no one (except perhaps the Turkish government), promoting the band, and ringing up box office sales. Almost, but not quite. I rate this one a 9 (which is being charitable).… Full Review »
  2. GerryB.
    10
    Everyone needs to see this eye-opening film. Genocide can and must be stopped. We can see how history repeats itself...from the Armenian Genocide to Darfur. We must be Screamers!… Full Review »
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