The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things

R

2004

1h 37m

Drama

List

43%

Tomatometer

51 Reviews

70%

Audience Score

5,000+ Ratings

Young Jeremiah lives in a stable environment with loving foster parents until the day his troubled mother, Sarah (Asia Argento), returns to claim him. Jeremiah becomes swept up in his mother's dangerous world of drugs, seedy hotels, strip joints and revolving lovers. Salvation comes in the form of the boy's ultrareligious grandparents, but soon Jeremiah's mother returns. Maternal love binds the pair together on the road until Sarah's desperate and depraved lifestyle finally consumes her.

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Critics Consensus

The film aims to shock, but there is no higher reason for the parade of sordid images except to be "cool."

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Marc Savlov

Austin Chronicle

Rated: 3/5

May 6, 2006

Full Review

Ann Hornaday

Washington Post

Reeks of a project desperate for edgy credibility.

Apr 13, 2006

Full Review

Jeff Shannon

Seattle Times

Argento's film is arguably exploitative, but its real-life horrors are effectively authentic.

Rated: 2.5/4

Apr 7, 2006

Full Review

Tom Steele

Out Magazine

The movie is a blistering and important jeremiad about the woeful ways that far too many Americans treat children.

May 25, 2022

Full Review

Anton Bitel

Projected Figures

uncompromising and relentlessly downbeat examination of a bond between mother and son that no amount of neglect, abuse or madness can erase.

Dec 5, 2021

Full Review

Steve Erickson

Gay City News

A flat plot description would make "The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things" sound like one of the most harrowing films ever made. However, Argento presents it with a lyricism that makes its horrors bearable.

Jan 29, 2019

Full Review

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Jake B

Jaw dropping movie. I recently learned about this film. The acting was great. The subject matter was tough. How anyone could treat a kid like that. Wow. I would give it 5 stars if the ending was better.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/06/23

Full Review

Audience Member

too bad to be good. to raw to be called the art. it cuts like a blunted knife and leaves needless wounds. 2,5 points, but 0,5 more for shout "oh, Marilyn Manson, again! so creep"

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

courageous and committed

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

From the hot Euro chick who starred with Vin Diesel in XXX, Asia Argento (daughter of Italian director Dario Argento), we are treated to a really gruesome drag through the sewer of lowest America. That is the broad stroke of The Heart is Deceitful Above All Thinga. If the performances were not amazing and heartbreaking, this film would just not be something that should exist. Very disturbing, transgressive, voyeuristic, unflinching and totally content with leaving the viewer feeling raped. This is the work of a deeply suffering artist who is lashing out at the world. But, a good artist.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Exploitative, and I say for the right reason. It does an amazing job making you see through the eyes of a child, of how tense situations can be when they don't fully understand and/or are afraid of. What makes this even more attention grabbing is that the story is true, yet it doesn't belong to anyone. It's both depressing to watch and to think about. The horror that some lives suffer are so complicated and such heart aching detail that we ask the wrong questions about there stories. This film still gave the right answer. Very powerful.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Horrible film, absolutely horrendous but really well directed and acted by an Asia Argento in skanky mode.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

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Asia Argento

Director

Asia Argento

Sarah

Jimmy Bennett

Jeremiah (Age 7)

Dylan Sprouse

Jeremiah (Age 11)

Cole Sprouse

Jeremiah (Age 11)

Peter Fonda

Grandfather

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Synopsis

Young Jeremiah lives in a stable environment with loving foster parents until the day his troubled mother, Sarah (Asia Argento), returns to claim him. Jeremiah becomes swept up in his mother's dangerous world of drugs, seedy hotels, strip joints and revolving lovers. Salvation comes in the form of the boy's ultrareligious grandparents, but soon Jeremiah's mother returns. Maternal love binds the pair together on the road until Sarah's desperate and depraved lifestyle finally consumes her.

Director: Asia Argento
Producer: Chris Hanley, Alain de la Mata, Roberta Hanley, Brian Young
Screenwriter: Asia Argento, Alessandro Magania
Production Co: Departure Entertainment, Pretty Dangerous Films, Muse Productions
Rating: R (Pervasive Language|Drug Content|Child Abuse/Neglect|Some Violence|Strong Sex)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): May 22, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $26.1K
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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