A mother and her daughter live a life almost in seclusion in a mountainous area of the United States. The adolescent Izzy only has as a friend, her mother, a woman full of secrets with whom she shares a primitive rock band. The mother does not want people to come near daughter , but Izzy manages to escape to the city several times. There she will discover that her family has a past related to witchcraft.... (Full plot summary below)
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A mother and her daughter live a life almost in seclusion in a mountainous area of the United States. The adolescent Izzy only has as a friend, her mother, a woman full of secrets with whom she shares a primitive rock band. The mother does not want people to come near daughter , but Izzy manages to escape to the city several times. There she will discover that her family has a past related to witchcraft.
Leave your thoughts about Hellbender.
| The A.V. ClubKatie RifeIf there’s a lesson to be taken from Hellbender, it’s this: Underestimate the small and unassuming at your own peril—whether that be the character of Izzy, the film’s real-life creators, or the movie itself. |
| RogerEbert.comBrian TallericoLike “The Deeper You Dig,” Hellbender gets better as it gets more surreal, but this one has a nice balance to the out-there imagery in Zelda’s grounded, coming-of-age performance. I love the movies she’s making with her family, but I’d also really like to see what she could do with another director too. She’s got the range and potential. |
| The Film StageJared MobarakWhile there’s always a humorous slant to proceedings (kudos to Shawn Wilson’s endearingly pure park ranger), that edge of danger is where it excels. |
| Screen RantFerdosa AbdiFrom beginning to end, Hellbender is an impressive, at times shocking, and enthralling triumph. |
| Paste MagazineNatalia KeoganTethered closely to the emotions and artistic sensibilities of the tight-knit family that created it, Hellbender is a can’t-miss foray into folk horror. Unabashedly creepy yet perplexingly comforting, it will inevitably remind audiences of the most eccentric aspects of our upbringings. |
| IGNKristy PuchkoHellbender, a coming-of-age movie from a family that’s built their own indie horror house, is a captivating, smart, and delightfully witchy tale. |
| The GuardianLeslie FelperinAlthough made on a tiny budget, this highly original exercise in folk horror punches well above its weight with snappy dialogue, trippy visual effects and impressive camerawork. |
| The New York TimesLena WilsonWhile the result is a mostly-compelling tale of matriarchal megalomania, occasionally this group composition feels more like a jumble. |
| Movie NationRoger MooreThe acting can feel flat and unpolished, and the intimacy of the story is both an asset and a limitation to its ambitions. But any horror fan looking for the next “came out of nowhere” genre phenomenon need look no further. It’s not the “Citizen Kane” of witch movies, but it’s creepy and DIY fun and well worth tracking down. |
| User ReviewOlivierPielIt's a "small" movie, in budget and scope. It compensates a stereotypical script and characters by focusing on an inventive photography and an unpretentious and salient editing, which really complements nicely the "earthy", "mineral" tone of the film. A very refreshing, non-hollywoodian acting is also a big plus. If I could compare it to a wine, it would be one of those that are restricted in complexity and palate but packing a punch and doing well what they are supposed to do. |
