Her Smell

Name: Her Smell
Genre: Drama, Music
Released: April 12, 2019
Duration: 134 min
Rating: 69
Cast: Agyness Deyn, Amber Heard, Angel Christian Roman, Ashley Benson, Cara Delevingne

2019

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 24 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 33 Ratings

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4.2

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4.2	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 33 Ratings

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Her Smell

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Movie Details & Credits

Gunpowder & Sky | Release Date: April 12, 2019 | R

Starring: Agyness Deyn, Amber Heard, Angel Christian Roman, Ashley Benson, Cara Delevingne, Dan Stevens, Dylan Gelula, Eka Darville, Elisabeth Moss, Eric Stoltz, Gayle Rankin, Hannah Gross, Lindsay Burdge, Virginia Madsen

Summary: A self-destructive punk rocker struggles with sobriety while trying to recapture the creative inspiration that led her band to success.

Director: Alex Ross Perry

Genre(s): Drama, Music

Rating: R

Runtime: 134 min

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Critic Reviews

Dan Caffrey

Mar 11, 2019

Perry’s kinetic style and Moss’ explosive performance transform it into something that feels more authentic than actual history. Read full review

Emily Yoshida

Oct 3, 2018

Much of Her Smell, especially these backstage scenes, border on unintelligible, with numerous exchanges getting lost in the chaos. I found this to be incredibly, teeth-grindingly effective — this is a thoroughly subjective depiction of mental illness and substance abuse, and the accurate relay of information often takes a backseat in the throes of such a state. Read full review

IndieWire David Ehrlich

Sep 12, 2018

If all of Perry’s stories have been hard to stomach, Her Smell takes things to impressive new lows before hitting bottom and tunneling out through the other side. It’s truly one of the most noxious movies ever made, which might help to explain why it’s also Perry’s best. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Apr 9, 2019

The supporting cast is game and Moss is riveting, transformed and transforming before our eyes, and not just in a “rock bod” vs. “mom bod” sense. She never lets Her Smell turn boring and her scent is what lingers after the credits have rolled. Read full review

Richard Roeper

Apr 18, 2019

Stretched over 135 minutes and overloaded with shout-to-the-rafters confrontations, Her Smell has too much talking and squawking, and not enough rocking and rolling. Read full review

Stephanie Zacharek

Apr 11, 2019

Her Smell is an uneven movie, occasionally dipping into clichés. But Moss’s performance works as a distillation of one of Love’s signature lines, from the song “Doll Parts”: Becky knows what it costs to be the girl with the most cake. Read full review

Todd McCarthy

Sep 12, 2018

In what does have to be perversely honored as some kind of special accomplishment for Moss as a performer, Becky sustains such an abusive, mad, pathetic and immature display for well over an hour that you just want to bolt. What edification can possibly be gotten from such a grotesque form of exhibitionism? Read full review

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User Reviews

JumpCut_Online

Oct 20, 2019

Her Smell is an undoubted triumph, standing as one of the year’s best releases by a long shot. As a drama it’s already a winner, but as a weaving exploration of a band’s shelf to keep the show going, Ross has crafted an unmissable journey. Sporting a blisteringly soulful soundtrack withHer Smell is an undoubted triumph, standing as one of the year’s best releases by a long shot. As a drama it’s already a winner, but as a weaving exploration of a band’s shelf to keep the show going, Ross has crafted an unmissable journey. Sporting a blisteringly soulful soundtrack with energy bleeding between the grooves and staggeringly raw observations of soured success, it would be a disservice to let this one go in one ear and out the other.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

zembowerboy

May 20, 2019

Only for fans of the director's previous efforts, or films that full-on assault the viewer. Elisabeth Moss gives one of the greatest performances you'll ever see. It's like Gaspar Noe by way of John Cassavetes.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

The3AcademySins

Feb 17, 2020

Her Smell is a fantastic character study led by Elisabeth Moss in a tour-de-force performance. She bleeds through every frame she's in, and is absolutely mesmerizing to watch. This movie does an excellent job of making you feel real empathy for a self-destructive, spoiled, selfish, andHer Smell is a fantastic character study led by Elisabeth Moss in a tour-de-force performance. She bleeds through every frame she's in, and is absolutely mesmerizing to watch. This movie does an excellent job of making you feel real empathy for a self-destructive, spoiled, selfish, and extremely damaged person. Her Smell runs at about two and a half hours, and I felt every single minute of that runtime. If that's not something you gel with, you probably won't like this movie. Also, I feel like Her Smell would have been MUCH better as a play! It's a perfect stage drama, and something you might see at Steppenwolf in Chicago or on Off-Broadway. If you love character driven dramas, or stories of rockstars going through mental breakdowns (ala The Doors) or if you are just a big Elisabeth Moss fan, you need to see this movie.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

GreatMartin

Apr 26, 2019

I don't want to say it but I can't help myself--forgive me! "Her Smell" should have been entitled, "She Smells". For the first hour and a half, we watch a rock star spiral down from fame after too many drugs, not being able to handle fame, care for her daughter, losing her ex, not showingI don't want to say it but I can't help myself--forgive me! "Her Smell" should have been entitled, "She Smells". For the first hour and a half, we watch a rock star spiral down from fame after too many drugs, not being able to handle fame, care for her daughter, losing her ex, not showing up on time for concerts if even showing up at all, doing a recording session, basically having a complete breakdown. The director, Alex Ross Perry, shows us all of it through a regular camera, a handheld camera, a phone camera while traveling back and forth in time not to forget having all the cameras swirling, upside down, going ever each way.

The director, who also wrote the script, convinced us, showed us, that she was having a breakdown but instead of telling it in 15 minutes he took 90 minutes. Perry is the sort of director that if he shows two women kissing he has to show them kissing 10 times just in case we missed the point! I was ready to leave at the 30-minute point and said so to Allen at least 5 more times!

For the last 40-45 minutes of the film, we see her recovery and then get to the 'Hollywood' ending.

Elisabeth Moss has proven herself an excellent actress and draws many audience members to see her television series but if the audience at today's showing is any indication, 3 of us, she isn't a movie draw! Okay, will give her a benefit of a doubt because the final Avengers did open today also.

I won't rewrite my opening play on words but this film is definitely on my worst films of the year but "The Climax" is still in first place!… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

LamontRaymond

Apr 26, 2019

Just a brutally bad movie. I like a number of the actors, particularly her band-mates and Eric Stoltz, but jeez, it did not live up to the billing. What a waste of a couple of hours. Ugh!

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

tatsuo11

May 22, 2022

I could not watch this film. I tried for 25 minutes. It is awful. How it garnered any positive reviews is a mystery to me.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ZeddicusZull

Nov 8, 2020

Amber Heard is the reason for the low review. LOW REVIEW only due to Amber Heard.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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