The Chumscrubber
Newmarket Films | Release Date: August 5, 2005 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
41
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 12 Critic Reviews
Positive:
2
Mixed:
6
Negative:
4
Watch Now
Stream On
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Expand

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
At once dreamily surreal, acutely intelligent, and strikingly tough-minded, this pitch-dark dramatic comedy recalls David Lynch and "Donnie Darko" while remaining fresh and original to its core. A stunning directorial debut. Read full review
75
Portland OregonianShawn Levy
A frustrating combination of inspiration and routine, acuity and dullness, originality and fashion. Part web-of-life indie film, part troubled teen drama, part suburban satire, part comic book fantasy, it vacillates between the engaging and the silly, buoyed by energetic performances but pulled underwater by self-satisfied writing and direction. Read full review
60
Dallas ObserverLuke Y. Thompson
Either a bit more humor or a bit more heart could exponentially improve things. Read full review
60
Los Angeles TimesCarina Chocano
Every adult in the movie is a caricature: Close, Janney and Wilson are compendiums of such broad, unattractive traits they make the ladies of "Desperate Housewives" look complex. The men, meanwhile, are weak, clueless and preening, with the exception of Fiennes, who's nuts. Read full review
50
Film ThreatJeremy Mathews
A series of pretentious social commentary punctuated by windows of excellence that only make it more frustrating. Read full review
50
Austin ChronicleKimberley Jones
It's a Big Idea movie that comes out only half-baked. Read full review
42
Seattle Post-IntelligencerSean Axmaker
The few genuine moments of connection -- are as refreshing as they are out of place. They only highlight how false and affected the rest of the film is. Read full review
40
EmpireOlly Richards
A tragic waste of acting talent, with nothing new to say. Can we please now politely close the door on middle-class repression before we get really angry? Read full review
30
VarietyScott Foundas
An insufferable, self-conscious cult movie, The Chumscrubber smugly heaps on half-baked ideas about media violence, the homogeneity of suburbia and the disintegration of the American family. Read full review
30
The A.V. ClubStaff (Not credited)
The resulting film is an example of how a film with camera and acting skills in its corner can still fall flat on its face. Read full review
25
Rolling StonePeter Travers
An appallingly clumsy and stupid take on drugs, kidnapping and suicide in suburbia. Read full review
20
L.A. WeeklyScott Foundas
Shrill, smug would-be satire. Read full review
More From This Movie

41 Critic Reviews

6.6 User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 81 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
2 77 Project Hail Mary
3 75 Send Help
4 73 Hoppers
5 72 The Sheep Detectives
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL