Undertow
User Score
7.0 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 23 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 23
  3. Negative: 5 out of 23

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  1. AntonP.
    May 9, 2005
    3
    If you are going to copy "Night of the Hunter" at least try to do it better.
  2. JaimeG.
    Oct 30, 2004
    10
    Jamie Bell is the best. A great actor.
  3. Greg
    Jun 2, 2005
    4
    Not bad acting by actors portraying creeps. This movie was slow and dour and unengaging.
  4. RyanF.
    Mar 9, 2009
    2
    One of the most inane movies I've seen. Jamie Bell's performance is the only reason it gets any points at all.
  5. BrianR.
    Jan 18, 2005
    10
    One of the best films of 2004.
  6. dudave
    May 2, 2005
    4
    Green's work doesn't seem to have a coherent vision this time. The scenes that feel improvised mostly work, but the scenes that tell the exposition are dead in the water. Jamie Bell is good, but overall I wouldn't recommend this. Lame ambiguous ending, too. See The Return or Limbo instead.
  7. BrianS
    Oct 22, 2004
    10
    Jamie Bell is going to be a big star.
  8. LourdesL.
    Oct 29, 2004
    10
    The actors did a great job adn the director if a genious.
  9. John
    Jan 25, 2005
    10
    I'm shocked by the low comments from critics. From the incredible opening title sequence, I knew I was in for something very special. If Dogville hadn't come out this past year, Undertow would have been #1 of the year by a long shot. I was mesmerized by it. Completely.
  10. ScottW.
    Jun 21, 2005
    2
    Poorly written. Poorly acted. Poorly directed. Like a band playing out of tune with a conductor who has a tin ear. I'm surprised that this wasn't universally panned. A southern lit attempt that is utterly lacking in nuance.
  11. Eldon
    Jun 6, 2005
    3
    I see some of the nice things the "critics" are saying about this movie, Roger Ebert I have respect for, but Roger and the rest of them have missed the mark on this one. The only thing worthy of viewing in this movie is Jamie Bell. He's the only magic the movie has. Josh Lucas is terrible in this movie. His acting looks dialed in and flat, he's a wash in this one. I could say a lot more and I won't. So, unless you are a huge Jamie Bell fan and you have to see everything he does, SKIP this movie.… Expand
  12. TonyB.
    Sep 14, 2005
    4
    Well-acted...that's the best thing about this slow and ponderous film. The plot has too many contrivances for its own good, and the cinematography, while frequently quite effective, sometimes becomes pretentious.
  13. K.A.
    Jan 28, 2006
    10
    Completely mesmerizing mood piece. Wonderully insightful and original; come on people! open your eyes.
  14. johnr
    Mar 24, 2008
    10
    Folks, you just don't get it. I live in the south, where people say and do crazy things, and too often die tragically. Melodrama and death are centrpieces of southern culture. Also, the relationships between the adult characters are spot on (not bad acting).
  15. Mornington
    Oct 23, 2010
    5
    Not a bad movie by any stretch, and clearly the work of a talented filmmaker, but the pace was sluggish rather than thoughtful and I felt that at the end I was left more tired than breathless. Undertow may be worth seeing for the visuals, which are breathtaking, but the story and character are too thin.
  16. BosieB
    Aug 19, 2011
    10
    I cannot understand the harsh negative reviews. Yeah, some of the scenes of the "Uncle Deel" could have been better but the movie belongs to the boys and I dare anyone not to be deeply touched them. Glass's score fitted like a glove. I was spellbound.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
63 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 30
  3. Negative: 1 out of 30
  1. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Kirk Honeycutt
    40
    The naturalistic style of the film is completely at odds with the hokey melodrama.
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  2. Variety
    Reviewed by: Scott Foundas
    50
    A deep-fried piece of Southern Gothic that wears its unpleasantness like a merit badge.
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  3. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Nathan Rabin
    70
    Undertow may prove the least immediately satisfying of Green's films, but it remains an achievement, emotionally rich and rife with biblical and mythic undertones.
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