Hesher

R

Released May 13, 2011

1h 40m

Drama

List

55%

Tomatometer

78 Reviews

61%

Audience Score

10,000+ Ratings

An anarchist (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) shakes things up after moving -- uninvited -- into the garage of a troubled youth (Devin Brochu) and the kid's father (Rainn Wilson).

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Critics Consensus

It has a dark sense of humor and a refreshing lack of sentimentality, but like its title character, Hesher isn't really interested in going anywhere.

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Leonard Maltin

leonardmaltin.com

Some indie films seem to exist as exercises in strangeness, just to see how far they can go-and how long audiences will watch before screaming and running up the aisles. I stuck with Hesher till...

Rated: 1.1/2

May 13, 2011

Full Review

Tom Long

Detroit News

Happily, Hesher never lays things out too clearly. Just as you never know where he came from, it's hard to grasp where he's going, or even what he's doing in the moment. But you know he fits somewhere. And that's satisfaction enough.

Rated: B

May 13, 2011

Full Review

Brian Tallerico

HollywoodChicago.com

Like a knock-off of Chuck Palahniuk produced by people raised only on Sundance films, "Hesher" is a mess.

Rated: 1/5

May 13, 2011

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

If only the film upheld the confronting emotions and entertaining recklessness so shocking early in the film with an appropriately downturned ending, the result might not feel so inharmoniously optimistic upon reflection.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jun 7, 2023

Full Review

Jack Fleischer

Battleship Pretension

At the very least I would totally say it's worth a matinee admission. Go and see it, and tell me what it is that I just don't get.

Mar 24, 2021

Full Review

Brent McKnight

The Last Thing I See

Works as a solemn story about dealing with loss, tragedy, and disappointment, primarily because Gordon-Levitt's character bridges the gap between laughter and tears.

Rated: B+

Jul 12, 2020

Full Review

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mark g

When you're an hour into the movie and realize you haven't enjoyed one second of it, you have to ask yourself, should I continue? I mean, shouldn't there be some payoff by now. I like indies, but have a point.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

07/16/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Lame. Even the obscenity is unimaginative.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/07/24

Full Review

Sean M

Acting is top notch all around, and writing Hesher had to be a liberating experience. Loved every second of it, and I wish more movies took risks like this more often.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/13/24

Full Review

Red R

As a former funeral director and eternal metalhead, I believe this movie is criminally underrated. Grief does not ask permission to enter our lives. It kicks in the door, usually at the worst possible time, and blows us off our feet with such force that we forget which way is which. Then, paradoxically, it becomes the one force capable of lifting us up. Heavy music fans will delight in the seamless integration of the soundtrack into Hesher's universe, and anyone going through a hard time will be reminded that, ready or not, the show must go on.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/22/22

Full Review

Audience Member

It's unquestionably a bizarre movie with some heart, but JGL's Hesher wears out his welcome relatively quick and none of the other characters (sans grandma) really bring much to the table. Hesher is a pretty forgettable one. Case in point: I saw this in the theater when it came out and just watched it again and remembered absolutely none of it.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

ian b

Gritty look at life for those suffering loss. Similar to the series Wayne but without the humor and pathos. Nothing is resolved perhaps the father's sence of purpose. There could have been so much more

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Spencer Susser

Director

Natalie Portman

Nicole

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Hesher

Rainn Wilson

Paul Forney

Devin Brochu

T.J.

Piper Laurie

Madeleine Forney

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Synopsis

An anarchist (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) shakes things up after moving -- uninvited -- into the garage of a troubled youth (Devin Brochu) and the kid's father (Rainn Wilson).

Director: Spencer Susser
Producer: Lucy Cooper, Matt Weaver, Scott Prisand, Spencer Susser, Natalie Portman, Johnny Lin, Win Sheridan
Screenwriter: Spencer Susser, David Michôd
Distributor: Wrekin Hill Ent.
Production Co: Last Pictures, American Work, Inc.
Rating: R (Drug Content|Disturbing Violent Behavior|Some in Presence of a Child|Graphic Dialogue|Pervasive Language|Sexual Content)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 13, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 6, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $382.9K
Runtime: 1h 40m

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