Elephant | Rotten Tomatoes (original) (raw)

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Critics Consensus

The movie's spare and unconventional style will divide viewers.

Adam Nayman The Ringer ...it remains one of the most unsettlingly accomplished American movies of the new millennium, and exactly as difficult to categorize or definitively interpret as its maker intended. Apr 6, 2020 Full Review David Ansen Newsweek There's much to argue with, but this unconventional, oddly beautiful film resonates in unexpected ways. Mar 12, 2018 Full Review David Denby New Yorker It offers a dismaying whiff of mortality in the spaces between the girls' chattering remarks in the cafeteria and in the blank eyes of boys who feel alienated from everything except the guns they cradle so lovingly in their arms. Apr 24, 2013 Full Review Trace Thurman Horror Queers Podcast A powerful and haunting film. Rated: 4/5 May 24, 2023 Full Review Joe Lipsett Horror Queers Podcast A quiet, enthralling slice of life portrait of an average day at a high school before it erupts into a school shooting. Van Sant offers no explanation, reassurance, or catharsis, which only makes the film all the more powerful. Rated: 4.5/5 May 17, 2023 Full Review Michael Cuby them. ...throughout it all, Elephant has stood the test of time due to the deeply human way it engages the very sensitive subject... Nov 2, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Britt C It wasn’t the worst movie I’ve ever seen, but the acting was terrible, the plot was extremely slow and dull until you get to the shooting scene and then that fills anticlimactic. I mean at one point they spend 5 minutes following this one kid around from behind for no reason. There’s no depth or character development, poorly written and directed overall disappointing. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 06/08/24 Full Review Michael L Dumbest movie I think I've ever seen. The characters are unbelievable, the dialogue is beyond corny, and quite frankly the motive of the shooters is wholly unbelievable and very poorly written and acted. If the filmmakers actually studied school shootings, both victims and perpetrators, they would have had access to material that would have allowed them to make an honest film about these terrible atrocities. I cannot fully express how awful this movie is. It earns half a star solely because it isn't an overly long film, so the mental torture doesn't last long enough to fully melt one's brain... But it comes close. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/24 Full Review Jeff M It took me a couple viewings of this movie to fully appreciate its power and experience the impact I think the filmmakers were trying to achieve. It follows a variety of adolescents at a suburban high school who drift through a seemingly uneventful day until two students arrive with violent intentions. Throughout the short 81 minute running time, we witness events from different viewpoints. This is going to be an extraordinarily frustrating experience for some, as it was for me the first time I watched it, because there are no answers. A good portion of the movie is filled with normalcy - students talking, making jokes, gossiping about others. It almost feels pretentious. But when the violence occurs, the complacency we've felt from the normalcy of the proceedings makes the impact devastating. I finally came to the realization that the film doesn't give us answers because there aren't really answers to be given. There is no one answer to Columbine or the other school shootings to which we've almost become de-sensitized because of their unfortunate increase in number. This is a movie to watch, ponder, discuss and possibly even watch again. It's one of the more haunting experiences I've ever had watching a movie, but I think this is one of those occasions when film becomes more than entertainment. Van Sant is possibly the riskiest and most experimental of directors working - I recently praised his film TO DIE FOR - and this is one of his crowning achievements. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/06/24 Full Review Diana y The cinematography of this movie was amazing. The way it was filmed really allowed you to see the severeness and affects of the shooting. It is filmed as if you are in the individual peoples life this allows you to feel the sudden gut wrenching feeling each of the individuals when the shooting begins. In actuality it allows you to sympathise with anyone who has experienced a shooting as the movie lulls you into a sense of everyday calmness before snatching it away from beneath you. It has a very raw feeling to it and is probably more realistic to what an actual shooting feels like. The acting isn't the best however I think it adds to the fact a school shooting can happen at anytime to anyone. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/02/24 Full Review Jeff R This movie was so Good that when Dimitrios Pagourtzis watched it he decided to go to Santa Fe High School and murder 10 people with a 12-gauge shotgun. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/31/23 Full Review DayBro In my opinion this film is a bit tight and my last claim to some cameraman's techniques which I didn't. This film is actually interesting. Conclusion: It is good movie with open final and good script. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/20/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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Synopsis A variety of adolescents at a suburban high school drift through a seemingly uneventful day, until two students arrive with violent intentions. Alex (Alex Frost) and Eric (Eric Deulen) have developed elaborate plans to enter their school and gun down as many of their peers as possible. Although Alex and Eric are seen as the victims of bullying, and the pair have carefully plotted their attack, most of the violence is committed with a detached sense of randomness.

Director

Gus Van Sant

Producer

Dany Wolf

Distributor

HBO, Fine Line Features

Production Co

HBO Theatrical Documentary

Rating

R (Disturbing Violent Content|Brief Sexuality|Drug Use|Language)

Genre

Drama, Crime

Original Language

English

Release Date (Theaters)

Oct 24, 2003, Original

Release Date (Streaming)

Mar 23, 2017

Box Office (Gross USA)

$1.3M

Runtime

1h 21m

Sound Mix

Surround