Hit So Hard
Well Go | Release Date: April 13, 2012 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
52
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 13 Critic Reviews
Positive:
3
Mixed:
9
Negative:
1
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
75
San Francisco ChronicleDavid LewisApr 26, 2012
An absorbing, educational, sad, humorous and ultimately uplifting film that is easily accessible and entertaining even for those not familiar with the grunge rock scene, or with the considerable role that Schemel played in that milieu. Read full review
70
The New York TimesManohla DargisApr 12, 2012
Hit So Hard is the touching story of how and why Ms. Schemel ended up in her own private hell and how and why she made her way out again into the world of sunshine, sobriety and puppy dogs. Read full review
67
Portland OregonianShawn LevyMay 24, 2012
It's a long film for such a familiar story. Read full review
60
Los Angeles TimesMark OlsenApr 19, 2012
Often the film pushes Schemel to the edge of what is intended to be her story, so in Hit So Hard she feels forced into the role of self-sacrificing side-player once again. Read full review
60
The Hollywood ReporterMichael RechtshaffenApr 12, 2012
Emotions run raw in this behind-the-scenes look at drummer Patty Schemel and her drug-fuelled run with the 90s grunge rock band, Hole. Read full review
58
The A.V. ClubAlison WillmoreApr 11, 2012
Hit So Hard offers glimpses of the ragged heyday of grunge that are so compelling, it's a shame the film didn't stay with them instead of continuing along a standard story of a rock 'n' roll downfall by way of drug addiction followed by a slow recovery. Read full review
55
NPRScott TobiasApr 16, 2012
There's a better documentary to be carved out of Hit So Hard, but not necessarily a great one, because the gossip and drug-fueled capers offered up by Love are simply more compelling than the tremulous course of Schemel's life. Here, as then, Schemel plays backup to history. Read full review
50
Washington PostDavid MalitzMay 11, 2012
Schemel's life story contains many interesting pieces - growing up as a lesbian in a conservative rural town, battling a lifetime of drug addiction, spending years in proximity to Love - but Hit So Hard often finds her as an extra in her own film. Read full review
50
New York PostSara StewartApr 13, 2012
It's perhaps unsurprising that Love - and her late husband, Kurt Cobain - even manage to steal the show in a documentary about Schemel's life. Read full review
50
VarietyRonnie ScheibApr 9, 2012
Though stylistically incoherent at times, picture benefits from the percussionist's plainspokenness. Read full review
40
Village VoiceCamille DoderoApr 10, 2012
Unfortunately for Schemel, director P. David Ebersole seems to think these pop-up video footnotes are a substitute for narrative development and, more or less, forgets to edit down the rest of the tediously paced rockumentary. Read full review
40
Time OutDavid FearApr 10, 2012
Schemel is a major rock & roll survivor; Hit So Hard is a minor rockumentary at best, as well as a seriously missed opportunity. Read full review
38
Slant MagazineNick SchagerApr 8, 2012
P. David Ebersole so busy flitters from one point of interest to another that Hit So Hard never coheres into anything other than a collection of rock-star clichés. Read full review
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