Her Smell

R

Released Apr 12, 2019

2 hr. 15 min.

Drama

Music

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List

84%

138 Reviews

Tomatometer

44%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

Becky Something is a talented but self-destructive musician who seems determined to alienate everyone around her -- even at the cost of her own band's success.

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Critics Consensus

Held together by a gripping lead performance from Elisabeth Moss, Her Smell is challenging and admittedly uneven, but ultimately worth the effort.

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Alec B

Moss is in top form here, utterly fearless in the way she disappears into this character. The movie itself is good, if also a bit too long and unfocused.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/08/24

Full Review

May C

She does smell, so the title is accurate. Too much poop in the bed.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

12/14/23

Full Review

Steve D

The film is ok but Moss is fantastic.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/06/23

Full Review

Juniper

Jesus. Someone unrolling a long psychotic break. This was just painful.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

Full Review

Joshua G

If you approach this as a very dry, absurdist mockumentary about a fictionalized Courtney Love and a loving tribute to the 90s, you'll enjoy this film. Its haunting and its beautiful and its not necessarily easy to watch but if you stick with it, you will be rewarded.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/25/22

Full Review

isla s

The first half or so of this film put me off because it depicts such a chaotic and disastrous, out of control female punk rocker type character and there doesn't appear to be any coherent plotline. There's a fair amount of mumbled dialogue during the scenes shot backstage - it has a documentary film feel to it, perhaps a little like 'This Is Spinal Tap' or something, only this isn't comedic at all of course. Its somewhat painful viewing at times, how Becky reacts when she arrives, substantially late for the intended show. You can hear the booming music (I assume played on speakers by the stage) while trying to make out what's being said by whom - its a little exhausting(!). I can't say its not atmospheric I suppose but still, confusing and disorientating are also terms that come to mind. In the 2nd half, or latter half, of the film, its quieter and more interesting, with Becky trying to get herself sober and her life sorted. However, even then there's still quite quiet dialogue and the viewer is left guessing, to an extent, what's going through her head. Elisabeth Moss certainly gives a decent performance, portraying such a vulnerable character very well - I wouldn't criticise her of that. I thought it was poignant that one of the song lyrics she sings is 'I just want to be in control of it, control of it...' I imagine she feels like she has little control over many things in her life and situation (regardless of whether or not thats ultimately true or not). I thought the best scenes were of her and her daughter, trying to acknowledge, befriend and get along with each other better than has previously been the case. It's certainly not an easy watch in some ways and it felt too scatter gun (if thats the right term?) but its not an awful film as such, no. It's not a film I'd actively recommend and it's not a remarkable film but for a film about an out of control young female rocker type, this certainly isn't bad. It's nearly a very good film but not quite - to me, this was an ok film that I'm glad I stuck with during the over the top, chaotic and somewhat unclear plot direction-wise first hour, first half or so. For fans of Elisabeth Moss, yes I'd recommend this but otherwise? not so much. I think Crazy Heart and Almost Famous are better films about troubled musicians, though I must say the last bit of the last scene (with Becky's daughter) was surprisingly moving. I just think if it was re-done slightly, it would have been better. Make of that what you will.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Alex Ross Perry

Director

Elisabeth Moss

Becky Something

Agyness Deyn

Marielle Hell

Cara Delevingne

Crassie Cassie

Dan Stevens

Danny

Amber Heard

Zelda E. Zekiel

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Her Smell: Trailler 1

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Ben Sachs

Chicago Reader

There have been plenty of movies about self-destructive rock musicians, but none quite like this.

Mar 10, 2020

Full Review

Claudia Puig

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

There's a claustrophobic, almost airless feeling to this -- it's almost suffocating, but it's always compelling.

Sep 27, 2019

Full Review

Adam Graham

Detroit News

You won't forget it. You can't forget it.

Rated: A

May 3, 2019

Full Review

Vadim Rizov

Filmmaker Magazine

In short: I liked the movie, and didn’t find it nearly as trying as its quickly-developing reputation would suggest.

Jan 5, 2023

Full Review

Prahlad Srihari

Firstpost

As a punk rocker, Elisabeth Moss is insufferable yet irresistible in Alex Ross Perry’s sustained anxiety attack of a movie.

Aug 5, 2022

Full Review

Merryn Johns

Curve

Her Smell is both intoxicating and nightmarish, perfectly capturing the feeling of being in the orbit of such a histrionic and toxic creature. You want to leave and yet somehow you don’t want to miss what happens next.

May 20, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

Becky Something is a talented but self-destructive musician who seems determined to alienate everyone around her -- even at the cost of her own band's success.

Director: Alex Ross Perry
Screenwriter: Alex Ross Perry
Distributor: Gunpowder & Sky
Production Co: Bow and Arrow Entertainment, E1 Entertainment, Gunpowder & Sky
Rating: R (Some Drug Use|Language Throughout)
Genre: Drama, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 12, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 10, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $257.7K

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