War Pony
Momentum Pictures | Release Date: July 28, 2023 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
70
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 18 Critic Reviews
Positive:
13
Mixed:
5
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
The New York TimesAmy NicholsonJul 27, 2023
A stellar debut. Read full review
80
The TelegraphRobbie CollinSep 6, 2023
The vibe is documentary plus poetry – a little Andrea Arnold, a little Chloé Zhao – with symbolic touches that might have felt a bit much (see: recurring visions of bison) had they not been so carefully leavened with down-to-earth warmth and wit. Read full review
80
The Irish TimesTara BradyJun 9, 2023
Working with Gammell, Keough, a granddaughter of Elvis Presley and the compelling star of The House that Jack Built and Daisy Jones & the Six, successfully transitions to the other side of the camera with this respectful take on a community under pressure. Read full review
80
Time OutAdena MaierAug 10, 2022
Every scene is shot in Pine Ridge, and the cast is entirely comprised of first-time actors from that community – and it’s these factors that really give the film a raw authenticity rarely found in film depictions of reservation life. Read full review
80
The GuardianPeter BradshawMay 28, 2022
[A] terrific debut feature. Read full review
80
IGNRyan LestonMay 28, 2022
An effective debut feature from director Riley Keough, War Pony is a rare breed – a native story told by an outsider seeking to uplift the community rather than exploit it. Read full review
80
SlashfilmRafael MotamayorMay 28, 2022
This is a brutally honest look at a community seldom portrayed on screen with care or honesty, with a simple story that may not pack much in terms of plot, but packs a whole lot of authenticity and empathy, with a stellar cast of mostly first-time actors. Read full review
75
The Film StageLuke HicksMay 28, 2022
Among many films that tackle class, race, and privilege at Cannes this year ... War Pony is more subtle in its pursuit. The stories aren’t plotless but the emphasis isn’t on any one narrative conflict. Keough and Gammell make it more about witnessing the culturally and spiritually rich world of Pine Ridge. Read full review
70
Rolling StoneDavid FearJul 28, 2023
There’s a lived experience pulsing at the center of this slice-of-life tale, which helps guide it over some of the more generic elements and weaker patches, especially when things threaten to detour directly into poverty-porn and/or Amerindie miserablism territory. Read full review
70
VarietyPeter DebrugeMay 28, 2022
If Larry Clark had ever found his way onto the Pine Ridge Reservation, he probably would have come away with a film like “War Pony,” which observes its young Native American characters hustling, skating and stealing drugs from otherwise distracted adults. Read full review
70
The Hollywood ReporterLovia GyarkyeMay 28, 2022
It’s a slow-burning film, one that pulls you in with its steady observations of the minor triumphs and major pitfalls [of its two protagonists]. Read full review
70
Screen DailyFionnuala HalliganMay 28, 2022
The result has a definite voice – even when its protagonists struggle to find their own. Read full review
63
RogerEbert.comRobert DanielsJul 28, 2023
From an outsider's perspective, however, as poetic and otherworldly as War Pony can be, the reality of its people never feels real. Read full review
60
EmpireSophie ButcherJun 8, 2023
Restrained but promising stuff from Keough and Gemmells, who exhibit strong world-building and lightness of filmmaking touch. A moving exploration of fatherhood, racial tension and reservation life. Read full review
60
TheWrapSteve PondMay 28, 2022
The movie sometimes feels as aimless as moments in the lives of the characters it depicts, but that helps give it the intimacy of a story told from the inside, not the outside. Read full review
58
IndieWireKate ErblandMay 28, 2022
Despite the apparent care and respect that went into Keough and Gammell’s film, “War Pony” also makes clear how very far there is still left to go when telling “authentic” stories. Read full review
58
The PlaylistGregory EllwoodMay 28, 2022
At its best, a welcome addition to the increasing number of contemporary Native American stories seen in the films such as “Songs My Brother Told Me,” “Wild Indian” and FX’s “Reservation Dogs.” At worst, it’s a disjointed narrative that sadly overstays its welcome. Read full review
50
Slant MagazineWes GreeneJul 24, 2023
The filmmakers never effectively detail the characters’ relation to the various cultural, psychological, or historical intricacies of their milieu. Read full review
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