Piercing

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2:20

Piercing

R

2019

1h 21m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

72%

Tomatometer

99 Reviews

44%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

After kissing his wife and baby goodbye for a seemingly normal business trip, Reed checks himself into a hotel room to accomplish something he's always dreamed of: the perfect murder. As his sinister plans unfold, he soon realizes he might be in over his head with a mysteriously unhinged call girl named Jackie.

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Critics Consensus

Stylish with a sadistic streak, Piercing pairs gripping lead performances with a smartly macabre story that delivers unpredictable thrills.

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Mark Kermode

Kermode & Mayo's Film Review

Feb 16, 2019

I was genuinely, in the best sense, jaw-dropped.

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Ed Potton

The Times (UK)

Feb 15, 2019

2/5

Ultimately, you just don't really care what happens to these two, and the additions of trippy hallucinations, mid-level bondage, tentacled minibeasts and lines such as "I want you to wear my skin" don't help.

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Elena Lazic

Little White Lies

Feb 15, 2019

3/5

Ending just as its long-teased crescendo of reciprocal madness begins, Piercing is a little too smart for its own good.

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Bryce Hanson

Horror Movie Talk

Aug 11, 2025

7/10

Piercing balances psychological horror and dark comedy adeptly while maintaining a fresh yet familiar style.

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Bianca Garner

Filmotomy

Oct 11, 2024

Piercing may not be the film for everyone (the violence and tone may offend some), but it is worth seeking out if you're a fan of late 70s/early 80s horror. Stylish, darkly funny, and truly depraved, Piercing is the definition of a cult classic.

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Dan Schindel

Vague Visages

Dec 6, 2023

Piercing plays out Reed and Jackie’s tryst as a sadomasochistic Punch and Judy routine, with the flare-ups of violence equally funny and horrifying.

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Sam H

@RT35323328 Jun 1, 2026

Just read the book please This is horrible

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Mar 29, 2026

The worldwide gross is $149,211.00. Rated R for Language, Aberrant Violent Content, Aberrant Sexual Content and Nudity.

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Luca T

@Luca2129 Jan 9, 2026

Senza dubbio il peggior film visto in tutta la mia vita, nessuna trama, nessuna spiegazione, solo un ora e mezza di tempo perso e incredulità di cio che vedevo , consigliato se si vuole perdere tempo a rompersi le palle con un film sensa un senso logico, non capisco chi lo elogia come film di un certo spessore quando nemmeno è considerabile film.

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Gert-Jan B

@RT32501326 Oct 7, 2024

Hi Gert-Jan Burghart here from the Netherland, love piercings, special my Prince Albert!

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Cristian s

@cristiansj Jun 15, 2024

Destaca visualmente por la gama de colores o alguna otra cosita, buenas actuaciones y al principio te engancha.. Pero es mala, con un ritmo que apesta, aburrida por muchos momentos y sencillamente olvidable.

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Nina E

@RT22194788 Oct 18, 2023

This movie tries to be a giallo. It even has a couple of tracks from Goblin in its soundtrack reminiscent of the original Suspiria. It appears to be set in the late analog era, and that makes sense considering it is based on a novel written in 1994. The movie is visually pleasing but I can't say much about the plot. A neurotic man wants to kill a sex worker but he chickens out. That is a smart choice for his sake but it makes for a bland ending. I liked it anyways and most people will probably like it too just because it's paced very well and the visuals are amazing.

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Nicolas Pesce

Director

Christopher Abbott

Reed

Mia Wasikowska

Jackie

Laia Costa

Mona

Marin Ireland

Chevonne

Maria Dizzia

Reed's Mother

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Synopsis

After kissing his wife and baby goodbye for a seemingly normal business trip, Reed checks himself into a hotel room to accomplish something he's always dreamed of: the perfect murder. As his sinister plans unfold, he soon realizes he might be in over his head with a mysteriously unhinged call girl named Jackie.

Director: Nicolas Pesce
Producer: Antonio Campos, Josh Mond, Jacob Wasserman, Schuyler Weiss
Screenwriter: Nicolas Pesce
Distributor: Greenwich Entertainment
Production Co: Borderline Films, YL Pictures
Rating: R (Language|Aberrant Violent Content|Aberrant Sexual Content|Nudity)
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 1, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 16, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $14.2K
Runtime: 1h 21m

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