The Letter: An American Town and the 'Somali Invasion'
Metascore
70 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
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  1. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: David Sterritt
    100
    Revealing and harrowing.
  2. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Frank Scheck
    90
    Zlah H. Hamzeh's documentary is a powerful and timely portrait of the tensions that can be generated by immigration situations, especially in a post-Sept. 11 world.
  3. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Rick Kisonak
    80
    As an affecting work of compassionate craftsmanship, The Letter delivers.
  4. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: Staff (Not credited)
    80
    An expertly woven narrative, as nail-bitingly effective as any good Hollywood thriller.
  5. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Hazel-Dawn Dumpert
    80
    The result is a carefully wrought, historically grounded and thoroughly absorbing look at a quintessential American experience.
  6. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Russell Scott Smith
    75
    In the last 20 minutes, the film moves as breathlessly as a Hollywood thriller -- only it's much more frightening, because it's true.
  7. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kevin Thomas
    70
    It could have been even more powerful with more context, clarity and a well-defined timeline. Undeniably strong, The Letter is at times misleading and confusing, possessing the raw materials for a much more coherent and potent film.
  8. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Anita Gates
    70
    Mr. Hamzeh's film is responsible and intelligent, though, and important as a record of a disturbing incident.
  9. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Fred Camper
    70
    The most telling moments in this 2003 video documentary aren't the statements of the neo-Nazis, a tiny minority who get way too much screen time, but the lies and bigotries of the ordinary citizens.
  10. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Noel Murray
    60
    Makes effective drama, but ultimately it's just an outrage machine, designed to get the viewer fired up by the sight of warring ideologues preaching to their own.
  11. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Peter L'Official
    60
    Affecting, straightforward presentation of tightly knit, contrapuntal interviews and crosscut rally footage--Hamzeh's film eschews voice-over to allow the more despicable characters to embarrass themselves with their ludicrously foolish invective.
  12. Variety
    Reviewed by: Robert Koehler
    60
    An especially dramatic, if needlessly frantic, work of polemical reportage on racism in America.
  13. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Ken Fox
    50
    A frustrating lack of details compromise this much-needed look at how the promise of American diversity failed a community of Somali refugees in a large Maine town.

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