76
Metascore
13 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 100San Francisco ChronicleDavid WiegandSan Francisco ChronicleDavid WiegandThis small film's accomplishments are many, but not the least is its ability to take a human story and frame it as a parable, without losing a bit of credibility or irresistible heart.
- Filmmaker Javier Fuentes-Leon's delicately and sensuously illuminates this collision of contemporary sexuality with centuries of dogma and tradition. At times, he interjects magical realist elements into the story, which makes it confusing rather than lifting it to a higher plane of understanding.
- 80NPRBob MondelloNPRBob MondelloUndertow, for all its narrative tricks, has been given the rhythm and texture of real life, as well as emotional undercurrents that are haunting.
- 80EmpireEmpireA languid, quietly moving love triangle.
- 80Village VoiceErnest HardyVillage VoiceErnest HardyUndertow, is sublime. Set in a small, picturesque Peruvian fishing village, it's less a coming-out tale than a magic realism–infused coming-of-consciousness love story.
- 80Los Angeles TimesKevin ThomasLos Angeles TimesKevin ThomasIn a confident yet relaxed feature debut, Fuentes-León has created a wholly unified work of art.
- 70The New York TimesManohla DargisThe New York TimesManohla DargisA small movie with a full heart, Undertow takes an old idea - the loving, lingering ghost - and gives it reverberant, resuscitated life.
- 60New York Daily NewsJoe NeumaierNew York Daily NewsJoe NeumaierWithout excessive emotion or drama, director Javier Fuentes-León's film - and Mercado's performance - gently captures the power of emotions whose silent rattle is even stronger than reality.
- 60Time OutEric HynesTime OutEric HynesUndertow's three impassioned lead performances and Fuentes-León's honest engagement with thorny matters of identity, sexuality and community still make it an easy movie to get swept up by.