House of D

PG-13

Released Apr 15, 2005

1h 36m

Comedy

Drama

List

10%

Tomatometer

102 Reviews

73%

Audience Score

5,000+ Ratings

In the present, artist Tom Warshaw (David Duchovny) recalls his traumatic coming of age. As a 13-year-old (Anton Yelchin) growing up in New York City in 1973, Tom hangs out with Pappass (Robin Williams), a mentally disabled man. With Tom's mother (Téa Leoni) battling depression after the death of her husband, the young boy is left to his own devices. When Tom develops a crush on schoolmate Melissa (Zelda Williams), Pappass feels abandoned and begins behaving erratically.

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Critics Consensus

A sincere but inept coming of age story.

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Marrit Ingman

Austin Chronicle

Dour, dry Duchovny's directorial debut is more weepy than creepy, a conventional coming-of-age story that flashes back to 1970s New York City.

Rated: 2/5

May 1, 2005

Full Review

Nelson Pressley

Washington Post

It's a fable that's too fabulous by half.

Apr 29, 2005

Full Review

Geoff Pevere

Toronto Star

Because dark secrets always summon flashbacks, the telling of Tom's plunges us back to Greenwich Village, circa 1973. Sideburns sprout, classic rock proliferates and lapels run amok. Then the horror really begins.

Rated: 1/4

Apr 29, 2005

Full Review

Charles Cassady

Common Sense Media

Off-putting drama of growing up male in the 1970s.

Rated: 1/5

Dec 15, 2010

Full Review

Prairie Miller

Long Island Press

Nothing wrong with working out borderline incestuous fixation issues. But a film still has to be more than your very own shrink, and reach out to the audience and rise above psychodrama interplay more suited to the therapist couch.

May 29, 2007

Full Review

Shirley Sealy

Film Journal International

While his script is good, even poetic at times, it certainly cannot be called an outstanding effort.

Mar 1, 2007

Full Review

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Tina N

This movie is underrated. It's a beautiful sensitive story of a young mans challenges while growing up in the 70's. Anton and Robin Williams give beautiful performances.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/05/24

Full Review

Melanie T

I’ve been a David Duchovny fan since the 90s, and when I saw the critics reviews for this movie, my expectations were low. Then I watched it years after it came out & thought *wait, this was actually pretty good!* A charming blend of humor & drama, Anton Yelchin & Erykah Badu are great! Robin Williams as the character with an intellectual disability might be a bit of a stereotype at times, but it’s not too cringe, he’s still pretty good. David isn’t even on screen much, but it was his baby, and I like it.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/14/24

Full Review

Laura Elizabeth

Rotten tomatoes has terrible taste the trash y'all give five stars and then rating this so poorly. Shame on you rotten tomatoes 🍅. This is one of the best movies ever !!!! So deep, evolving and cathartic . I also like "what dreams may come" with robin williams , "august rush"is ok . "The fisher king" is good .This one though . This one is a whole hidden gem !!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/22/24

Full Review

Halle M

An unusually and uncomfortably sexual movie (mostly at the beginning). Especially when it is about a protagonist that is supposed to be 12, so that's kinda odd. Other than that, it's a pretty good oldie I think.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/09/23

Full Review

isla s

This is an emotional, quite poignant watch. Both Anton Yelchin and Robin Williams give great performances in their roles. Its hard to describe, its a sobering tale but with no real violence or anything like that, its about a young adolescent (Tommy) in a not great place, geographically and emotionally and who hangs out with a mentally disabled man - the 2 of them share some good laughs and get along well at first. I found myself feeling really quite sorry and frustrated for both of these characters equally, as well as laughing alongside them at some of the humour, which is present at times. Its a well made film, one that will probably stay with me for some time, so I would recommend it, yes.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

While, yah, the film doesn't work, I did find myself liking aspects of this film and have fond memories watching it with my family (even though this film didn't entirely make sense to me). I mean, it HAD promise

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

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David Duchovny

Director

Anton Yelchin

Tommy age 13

Robin Williams

Pappass

Erykah Badu

Lady Bernadette

David Duchovny

Tommy

Magali Amadei

Coralie Warshaw

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Synopsis

In the present, artist Tom Warshaw (David Duchovny) recalls his traumatic coming of age. As a 13-year-old (Anton Yelchin) growing up in New York City in 1973, Tom hangs out with Pappass (Robin Williams), a mentally disabled man. With Tom's mother (Téa Leoni) battling depression after the death of her husband, the young boy is left to his own devices. When Tom develops a crush on schoolmate Melissa (Zelda Williams), Pappass feels abandoned and begins behaving erratically.

Director: David Duchovny
Screenwriter: David Duchovny
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Bob Yari Productions, Southpaw Entertainment
Rating: PG-13 (Sexual References|Language|Drug References|Thematic Elements)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 15, 2005, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $371.1K
Runtime: 1h 36m
Sound Mix: Surround