
While on a journey of discovery in exotic India, beautiful young Ruth Barron falls under the influence of a charismatic religious guru. Her desperate parents then hire P.J. Waters, a macho cult de-programmer who confronts Ruth in a remote desert hideaway. But P.J. quickly learns that he's met his match in the sexy, intelligent, and iron-willed Ruth.... (Full plot summary below)
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While on a journey of discovery in exotic India, beautiful young Ruth Barron falls under the influence of a charismatic religious guru. Her desperate parents then hire P.J. Waters, a macho cult de-programmer who confronts Ruth in a remote desert hideaway. But P.J. quickly learns that he's met his match in the sexy, intelligent, and iron-willed Ruth.
Leave your thoughts about Holy Smoke.
| Filmcritic.comRobert StrohmeyerI suspect much of Grier's work on this film is cluttering the cutting room floor, and her character is just never realized. Outside of this one shortcoming, Holy Smoke is a masterpiece. |
| eye WEEKLYGemma FilesNot all of the ensuing psychodrama works completely, but as ever, it's just so pleasant to see someone making a movie that's about something |
| Apollo GuideBrian WebsterWhy does Campion and her co-screenwriter and sister Anna need to give us a tidy resolution to this crazy mess? It doesn't fit and it invalidates much of what came before. |
| Chicago TribuneMichael WilmingtonIt's a funny, insightful film whose feminist undertones don't overwhelm the story and characters. |
| NewsdayJohn AndersonDespite the good performances and Campion's visual reach, her characters are too specific/eccentric to transcend their storyline and make us feel that there's something to be absorbed from the P.J.-Ruth imbroglio. |
| Combustible CelluloidJeffrey M. AndersonHoly Smoke does journey all over the map in a variety of tones and styles, but Campion is a master director and keeps this under control. |
| Boston PhoenixPeter KeoughNot to beat a metaphor to death, but since hitting a high note with The Piano, Jane Campion's career has gone off-key. |
| Planet Sick-BoyJon PopickThe film is brutally uneven, but not without visual flare. |
| PopMattersF.L. CarrThe film doesn't make it easy to read his or her recovery, or whether salvation is even possible in this world. |
| Sacramento BeeJoe BaltakeA tightly wound, heady affair that actually comes to seem more deranged as it progresses. |