Horse Girl

R

2020

1 hr. 44 min.

Comedy

Drama

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List

71%

58 Reviews

Tomatometer

48%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

A woman's surreal dreams affect her perception of reality.

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Critics Consensus

Horse Girl proves unwilling or unable to explore the deeper themes it addresses, but this unusual drama is anchored by Alison Brie's committed performance.

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Terry H

The plot is a slow descent of a somewhat nerdy normal gal down into the depths of mental illness. Or is it mental illness? Up to the viewer to decide by the end. Alison Brie was outstanding in the lead role.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/24

Full Review

Jeff M

To whatever degree this movie works is mainly thanks to Alison Brie, whose performance pretty much holds everything together and is frankly the only above average element here. She does a commendable job of portraying the ravages of mental illness without going over the top. Sarah isn't an especially interesting character, but Brie does her best with limited material. The first half is a bit slow but does tend to build some curiosity as to what direction the story is taking us. However, as things tend to spiral out of control in the second half, the degree of confusion is only equaled by our degree of disinterest. I was left with a lot of questions at the end of this movie, but none that I was particularly interested in having answered. This is a rainy day time killer, but nothing more.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Horrible, depressing, just keeps getting worse. I can’t even finish it

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/24

Full Review

IrateTyrant C

Jeff Baena is my new favorite director, and this was better than A BEAUTIFUL MIND If I didn't comment on this movie, I'd be remiss. As far as films reflecting schizophrenia, this movie was S-tier. I've been a big fan of Jeff Baena as well as the Duplass brothers for some time. I especially liked Room 104, the series by Duplass. This film blended the surreal sci-fi elements of Room 104 and other Duplass projects and the sublime realism which is a trademark of Baena. But it did so with finesse about the subject of mental illness. Baena's other films such as Joshy touch on mental illnesses but stroke it like a flame waiting to jump and burn you. As somebody who has suffered from neurological disorders throughout my life, this film hit close to home and left a mark. I rewatched it twice to absorb the messages and layers. Reading other people's reviews, I am left stunned with the naivety and misunderstanding people came away with from it. Many reviews point to the direction as being flawed, which couldn't be further from the truth. Apparently, the director was quoted as saying how the ending was constructed so that the viewer was given a choice of believing the fantastic elements or realizing the misperceptions of the heroin. I think that was brilliant. The performance by Alison Brie was breathtaking, and Molly Shannon, Jake Picking, and John Reynolds take the supporting actor pieces to outstanding levels. The ending was perfect, and the themes were delivered with pinpoint accuracy to the actual experience of being schizophrenic, which is something I can speak with authority on. The movie starts out with relatable and comforting scenes of a woman struggling to maintain mental health and ends with her lucid experience as somebody who has toppled over her ties with reality. This movie was beautiful.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/17/23

Full Review

Nathaniel C

Great acting. Some interesting scenes. But for what? It feels pretty pointless and I feel like I'd be better off having done something else. But if you're into really good acting, it's a way to spend you time.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/08/23

Full Review

E M

Gorgeous and horrifying.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/05/23

Full Review

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Jeff Baena

Director

Alison Brie

Sarah

Debby Ryan

Nikki

John Reynolds

Darren

Molly Shannon

Joan

John Ortiz

Ron

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Horse Girl: Trailer 1

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Marissa De La Cerda

Chicago Reader

Brie's performance is powerful and the film's editing does a superb job of mixing Sarah's obscured perception with reality, succeeding in offering an unsettling look into the mind of someone who suffers from a severe mental illness.

Feb 24, 2020

Full Review

Danny Leigh

Financial Times

Brie is rawly convincing as a troubled woman for whom the sides of reality have become too slippery, transformed into the heroine of a private sci-fi melodrama.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 12, 2020

Full Review

Richard Roeper

Chicago Sun-Times

Brie's performance is open and honest and disturbing and funny and lovely and resonant.

Rated: 3.5/4

Feb 11, 2020

Full Review

Elissa Suh

Moviepudding

Festooned with beads and fabrics, Horse Girl is visually inventive and ultimately succeeds on the grounds of Alison Brie's unwavering and longtail commitment to playing more than just the pretty girl.

Sep 14, 2021

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Bianca Garner

Next Best Picture

A career-best performance from Alison Brie and a complex, thoughtful approach to mental illness.

Rated: 7/10

May 5, 2021

Full Review

Alan Boon

Starburst

Amongst the metaphor and pathos, it's Brie's performance that stands out.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 20, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

A woman's surreal dreams affect her perception of reality.

Director: Jeff Baena
Executive Producer: Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass
Screenwriter: Jeff Baena, Alison Brie
Production Co: Duplass Brothers Productions
Rating: R (Some Sexuality|Drug Use|Language|Graphic Nudity)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 7, 2020

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