53
Metascore
24 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 80The New York TimesJanet MaslinThe New York TimesJanet MaslinWith its devilish attention to polite little touches, its abundant bitchiness, its decrying of the Handmaids' oppression along with its tacit celebration of their fecundity, The Handmaid's Tale is a shrewd if preposterous cautionary tale that strikes a wide range of resonant chords.
- 60Los Angeles TimesPeter RainerLos Angeles TimesPeter RainerIt's a beautifully austere piece of work -- it's rare to see a film these days that's as carefully designed as this one. But the design hasn't been given enough human contours. It's as if the film makers had forgotten the raging emotions that all that design and austerity were supposed to repress. [07 Mar 1990, p.F1]
- 50Chicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertChicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertAt the end of the movie we are conscious of large themes and deep thoughts, and of good intentions drifting out of focus.
- 50Washington PostDesson ThomsonWashington PostDesson ThomsonThe finale isn't quite as chillingly nerve-wracking as one would hope. Schloendorff, who also made The Tin Drum, directs with a uniform dullness that creates little sense of suspense. In replaying the Atwood novel, he and Pinter ultimately fail to create a significant timbre of their own to make the transmogrification truly effective.
- 50Washington PostRita KempleyWashington PostRita KempleyIf the movie stands between good old messy, toxic America and depraved Gilead, blessed be it. But alas, it's unlikely to appeal to the converted, much less bona fide brimstone eaters. And one can't help but wonder why a woman didn't direct this movie about women being dominated by men.
- 42Entertainment WeeklyOwen GleibermanEntertainment WeeklyOwen GleibermanThe Handmaid’s Tale is watchable, but it’s also paranoid poppycock — just like the book.
- 40Time OutTime OutSadly, the faults in the film lie in Harold Pinter's uncharacteristically bland script, and often woefully inadequate design and direction: the latter often missing opportunities in key scenes, the former full of rather tacky and silly uniforms, symbols, vehicles, and particularly crass watchtowers.
- 25Rolling StonePeter TraversRolling StonePeter TraversHollywood has again turned a challenging book into negligible cinema. Forget the $13 million budget and the reputations involved. This Handmaid’s Tale is merely a piss-poor rehash of The Stepford Wives with delusions of grandeur.