The Novice

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The Novice

R

Released Dec 17, 2021

1h 34m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

88 Reviews

71%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

Isabelle Fuhrman (Orphan) plays Alex Dall, a queer college freshman who joins her university's rowing team and undertakes an obsessive physical and psychological journey to make it to the top varsity boat, no matter the cost. Intent on outperforming her teammates, Alex pushes herself to her limits-and beyond, alienating everyone around her in the name of success. Furhman's fierce lead performance collides with Lauren Hadaway's bold direction and dynamic editing, creating a visceral window into a cutthroat world. Stylish cinematography and a seductive soundtrack complete the experience, evoking the romance and danger of falling in love; the attraction, the drama and the fallout. This unapologetic debut from Hadaway, based on her personal experience as a competitive collegiate rower, heralds a bold new voice in queer storytelling. If you liked Whiplash, this one's for you.

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Critics Consensus

A remarkable first feature for writer-director Lauren Hadaway, The Novice paints a thrilling -- and disturbing -- portrait of obsession.

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Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

I can’t wait to see – and hear – what [Hadaway] does next.

Rated: 5/5

Apr 4, 2022

Full Review

Elizabeth Wiart

Little White Lies

A hard hitting look inside the body and mind of a compulsive perfectionist.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 1, 2022

Full Review

Linda Marric

The Jewish Chronicle

Hadaway delivers an engaging queer psychological thriller which delves deep into the destructive nature of obsessive-compulsive behaviour.

Rated: 5/5

Mar 31, 2022

Full Review

William Stottor

Loud and Clear Reviews

A breathless and harrowing journey through physical and psychological self-torture.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 18, 2024

Full Review

Rebecca Johnson

Film Focus Online

The Novice is a tense, fast paced and unique psychological drama that explores its theme of obsession well, diving into the psyche of its lead character with great development.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 25, 2023

Full Review

Nuha Hassan

Nuha Hassan

It’s uncomfortable, terrifying, and even more so, relatable as a coming-of-age story that deals with the anxieties of college achievements.

Jul 21, 2023

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Addison C

As a collegiate rower myself, this is one of the most honest rowing movies out there. The main character, Alex, is a dramatic character for sure but it lends well to the intense nature of the sport. The portrayal of the technical aspects was spot on and the jagged jumps and cuts and time blends really did a beautiful job at capturing the essence of practice. I was expecting some more trigger warnings needed but still, very intense movie. 5 stars for sure

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/04/24

Full Review

Suzanne G

This is not an easy movie to watch, but I think it is well-done. The characters feel real, and, for me, the story's dramatic arc is satisfying.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/24

Full Review

Sal D

Definitely worth that watch. Lead actress Isabelle Fuhrman offers a master class portrayal of an obsessive compulsive, on edge, borderline to not so bordering self destructive character Alex who's beyond ultra competitive.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/05/24

Full Review

Joshua m

Good acting all around, especially the 2 leads. Also well directed in a stylistic yet intense manner. There is a lot going on here psychologically, some of which remains unexplored. My only complaint is that the dialogue is sometimes hard to follow.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/03/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Dull. Weird jumps and camera work instead of actually telling a story. Didn’t care about the main character at all because all you know is she’s hyper competitive. No depth. Nothing relatable. Turned it off.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/03/24

Full Review

Randy H

I guess I am out of synch with many other reviews, but I did not like this movie. It was unpleasant to watch--maybe that's the point, but it is not what I want from a movie.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/31/24

Full Review

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Lauren Hadaway

Director

Isabelle Fuhrman

Alex Dall

Amy Forsyth

Jamie Brill

Dilone

Dani

Kate Drummond

Coach Edwards

Jonathan Cherry

Coach Pete

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2022 Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominations

The Novice: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Isabelle Fuhrman (Orphan) plays Alex Dall, a queer college freshman who joins her university's rowing team and undertakes an obsessive physical and psychological journey to make it to the top varsity boat, no matter the cost. Intent on outperforming her teammates, Alex pushes herself to her limits-and beyond, alienating everyone around her in the name of success. Furhman's fierce lead performance collides with Lauren Hadaway's bold direction and dynamic editing, creating a visceral window into a cutthroat world. Stylish cinematography and a seductive soundtrack complete the experience, evoking the romance and danger of falling in love; the attraction, the drama and the fallout. This unapologetic debut from Hadaway, based on her personal experience as a competitive collegiate rower, heralds a bold new voice in queer storytelling. If you liked Whiplash, this one's for you.

Director: Lauren Hadaway
Producer: Ryan Hawkins, Kari Hollend, Steven Sims, Zack Zucker
Screenwriter: Lauren Hadaway
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: Picture Movers Anonymous, H2L Media Group, Exit Strategy Productions
Rating: R (Some Sexuality|Language|Brief Disturbing Material)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 17, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 17, 2021
Box Office (Gross USA): $23.0K
Runtime: 1h 34m

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