The Clovehitch Killer
IFC Midnight | Release Date: November 16, 2018 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
59
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 11 Critic Reviews
Positive:
6
Mixed:
4
Negative:
1
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
90
Film ThreatLorry KiktaNov 8, 2018
The Clovehitch Killer is one of the best horror films to come out this year. It’s intelligent and subversive, and it captures the banality of small-town life perfectly. Read full review
83
Entertainment WeeklyDana SchwartzNov 15, 2018
Unlike so many recent horror movies, The Clovehitch Killer is patient with its thrills, almost excruciatingly so. Read full review
80
IGNRosie KnightNov 11, 2018
The Clovehitch Killer is a truly scary and surprisingly thoughtful flick which transcends the trappings of its genre roots with sterling direction and a minimalistic approach to horror. Read full review
75
The PlaylistKyle KohnerNov 15, 2018
It’s not only a realistic portrait of a conservative Middle America but a devastating portrayal of what happens when a family goes murderously awry. Read full review
70
New York Magazine (Vulture)Emily YoshidaNov 20, 2018
It’s convincing because it’s not terribly sensationalized, and the film’s conclusion is similarly smart, completely pulling the rug out from under our expectations of justice and revenge. Read full review
70
VarietyDennis HarveyNov 15, 2018
This atypical serial-killer thriller distinguishes itself in resisting thrills — let alone any actual violence — till well past its halfway point, instead maximizing the quiet discomfort in a son’s rising suspicion that his outwardly Dagwood-type dad could be a notorious murderer. Read full review
60
Los Angeles TimesNoel MurrayNov 15, 2018
Skiles keeps the film’s pacing slow, which at times builds tension, at times makes everything feel more off-kilter, and at times is … well, just slow. Mostly the director and his superb cast use the extra time to explore the nuances of Ford’s tale of sick compulsions and social pressures. Read full review
50
RogerEbert.comBrian TallericoNov 16, 2018
The fact is that as good as Plummer and McDermott are here, Ford ultimately writes himself into a corner that requires actions in the final act that don’t ring true. Read full review
50
The Hollywood ReporterJustin LoweNov 15, 2018
More reliant on atmosphere than action to build suspense, Duncan Skiles’ The Clovehitch Killer offers an intriguing perspective on the darker side of American values, but lacks the conviction to entirely expose the cultural contradictions that often enable compulsive murderers Read full review
50
The New York TimesJeannette CatsoulisNov 15, 2018
With its achingly slow build and understated performances, The Clovehitch Killer strains to surmount its lack of urgency. Read full review
33
The Film StageJared MobarakNov 15, 2018
It’s a shame because McDermott effectively toes the line between dorky and menacing (before the film explains which is real), Plummer is great playing with a loaded deck of anxieties and insecurities, and Beaty performs her role perfectly until the writing abandons what made her necessary. Read full review
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