Harold and Maude

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john h The dark humor is expressed so weird that people are more shocked while only a niche group of fans will confidently laugh out loud. The film is almost entirely fabricated of an alienated, different and unexpected route of unconventional narrative - which might explain its cult following. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/05/25 Full Review Kyle C This is a weird movie – probably weirder than you’re expecting. It’s got that sort of Monty Python style of irreverent sketch comedy but with a lot more depth and heart. The film’s timing is spot on in everything from its musical transitions, driving home emotional connections, to its precise camera cuts, bringing out the comedic stylings of the script and the cast. It’s either a feel-good or feel-bad movie, depending on who you ask. Personally, I just left feeling a little off: certainly impacted, but also strangely empty. It’s hard to say what’s missing, if anything, but the film feels like it lacks a conclusion in some way. Regardless, with an excellent soundtrack from Cat Stevens and some really funny, awkward comedy, Harold and Maude is worth checking out if you can sit with the discomfort of it all. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/02/25 Full Review I. S. W Although tied to the hippy period, Harold and Maude is well worth watching today. It handles macabre and taboo subjects with ease and humour. The Cat Stevens music really carries it well. Ruth Gordon was such a sweetheart, although I don't agree with some of the things her 80-year-old character does in the movie (e.g., stealing cars, sleeping with 20 year old). Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/07/25 Full Review William G I found this movie as a teenager in the 80s and it had a profound impact on me. The soundtrack is fantastic, and the message is great: be yourself, be open to love, and be willing to experience life in all its glory. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/07/25 Full Review Kelly A Hal Ashby's Harold and Maude is without a doubt one of the most bizarre films I've ever seen. It immediately puts the viewer outside of their comfort zone. The movie essentially revolves around the relationship of the two protagonists, the morbid, death obsessed Harold and the old, free spirited Maude. Okay, let's just say their relationship is disturbing and repugnant when considered at face value. But beyond its strangeness, it does carry a deeper intent that I think is worthy to be unpacked. Ashby tells an unconventional love story to shock people. The dynamics of their relationship reflect how marriage between two different ages is basically perceived as scandalous in society and can be said to show how same sex couples were viewed during the period. Their bond, strange as it is, encourages us instead to look at ourselves and ask why it is that some relationships make us uncomfortable but others are acceptable. Much as I remain skeptical about the relationship, I now appreciate the fact that there is a bigger story beyond it. The zest Maude has for living and a rejection of societal rules certainly gives a bright energetic cast to the film with Harold's morbid fascination providing stark contrast that changes as they get involved with one another. It is not a comfortable movie to be with, and I won't pretend it worked altogether for me. But I can appreciate the audacity and the way it merges dark humor with tender moments to deal with significant issues. Strange, yes but also evocative enough to work well beyond its end credits. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/20/24 Full Review Kayla M Harold and Maude was interesting from the start. With the first time Harold is introduced to the audience he is pretending to take his own life to gain his mother’s attention. The overall feel of the film feels gloomy but with scenes where both Harold and Maude are bonding there are usually bright warm sunlight scenes. A scene I took note of was quite early in the film as he is being told something by his mother and her skin appears as though she was very warm toned. And he was quite pale which is when I started to first see the director's intent. As Harold first gets to know Maude and she tells him “oh my, how the world still dearly loves a cage” that phrase alone tells a lot of her character. She was a person who felt changed so for that reason she wanted to set everything free including herself. Through that I feel she felt most free by releasing birds and even the tree she rescues. On some level Harold felt trapped by his personal fascination with death. I interpreted their relationship as a way of freeing each other. Their “meet cute” isn’t like others I’ve seen before, it is very unique to them which I liked. Think the overall concept of having a couple with such a large age gap is unique. I want to also mention a question I had during viewing this, “would I feel the same calmness of their age gap if the gender roles were reversed?”. Truthfully I liked the connection they displayed with one another but at first I interpreted it as affection for friendship but about half way through I finally realized it was more than that. Its normal that most find their relationship odd, including myself but I’d oddly enough would see myself watching this film again to understand it even deeper. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/20/24 Full Review Read all reviews

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