63
Metascore
23 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 80The Hollywood ReporterJohn DeForeThe Hollywood ReporterJohn DeForeStars Christopher Abbott and Mia Wasikowska go a long way toward keeping this tricky pic balanced, though Pesce's knowing use of sleazy-Seventies vibe (following the distinctive b&w spareness of The Eyes of My Mother, his only previous feature) creates the perfect world for them to do it in.
- 70VarietyAmy NicholsonVarietyAmy NicholsonThe film is expertly crafted with jewel-toned cinematography, terrifically sleazy saxophone music, and performances by Abbott and Wasikowska that take turns seizing command. Still, like Reed’s solo rehearsals, Piercing has the feel of a blueprint, a talented man exercising his technical skills while waiting for a whack at the real deal.
- 67The Film StageJared MobarakThe Film StageJared MobarakPesce is meticulously constructing the perfect murder only to systematically dismantle it for devilish fun. Maybe it’s a spoiler to call Piercing a comedy, but that’s exactly what it is.
- 67Entertainment WeeklyChris NashawatyEntertainment WeeklyChris NashawatyClocking in at a lean and very mean 81 minutes, writer-director Nicolas Pesce’s follow-up to his grim 2016 black-and-white arthouse chiller "The Eyes of My Mother" is a sick-joke psychological cat-and-mouse game with just enough twists to keep you on your toes.
- 67The A.V. ClubMike D'AngeloThe A.V. ClubMike D'AngeloRe-conceiving the tone was a smart move on Pesce’s part—a faithful, ultra-grim adaptation would likely have been unbearable. Trouble is, he loses his nerve. Or maybe he just ran out of ideas.
- 67Austin ChronicleAustin ChroniclePushing the concepts of consensual BDSM to their very furthest extremes, Pesce's curious, stylized, and perversely erotic romance will inevitably make the audience flinch.
- 63Slant MagazineChuck BowenSlant MagazineChuck BowenIf the film is mildly disappointing, it’s because it doesn’t go far enough. It confidently prepares us for a frenzy that never quite materializes.
- 58The PlaylistRuss FischerThe PlaylistRuss FischerIn the end Piercing seems more interested in aesthetic playfulness than getting the most out of these characters. Playing towards comedy helps some of the more freaky scenes go down, but that’s not a substitute for substance.