--- title: "Hostiles: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/hostiles/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/hostiles" critics_score: 60 critics_reviews: 28 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Hostiles (2017): what the critics said Critics' score 60 from 28 reviews: 10 positive, 11 mixed, 7 negative. The reviews divide almost evenly, with mixed verdicts the largest group. Most critics agree on where the film’s strengths lie: Christian Bale’s restrained lead performance, Rosamund Pike’s grief-stricken Rosalie and Wes Studi’s presence are praised across the spectrum. The widescreen landscapes draw near-universal approval, and several critics credit the film with taking the era’s violence seriously. The reservations are just as consistent. Critic after critic, including several who like the film, finds the Cheyenne characters thin, used to prompt the white characters’ growth rather than developed in their own right. The pace is called ponderous and the tone relentlessly grim. The spread is wide, from strong endorsements at the Los Angeles Times and The Wrap to outright dismissals at Paste and The New Yorker, and the harshest reviews are those that find the film’s politics compromised. Vulture is alone in faulting Pike, calling her performance a set of mannerisms. ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 21 December 2017. Turan praises “Hostiles” as an intense, compelling western with a forceful emotional pull. He singles out the performances, especially those of Christian Bale, Wes Studi and Rosamund Pike, as a major strength. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-hostiles-review-20171221-story.html) ## Radio Times — Brian Pendreigh Rating 4/5. Pendreigh finds that Cooper gives fresh life to a familiar reconciliation narrative. He particularly praises the film’s treatment of mutual respect emerging between former enemies. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-ja4h2o/hostiles/) ## The i Paper — Matthew Turner Rating ★★★★. 5 January 2018. Turner praises the film as a searing, compelling Western with resonant themes, while noting that its progressive ideas are weakened by underdeveloped Native characters. He singles out Christian Bale’s performance and the controlled, inventive staging of the violence for praise. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/hostiles-review-115192) ## Time Out — Tomris Laffly Rating 4/5. 20 December 2017. The review calls the Western a spiky entry in the genre’s revival. It singles out Rosamund Pike’s performance as stellar. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/hostiles) ## Empire — Dan Jolin Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 2 January 2018. Jolin finds the film a finely crafted, deeply bittersweet Western that confronts the era’s violence without flinching. He especially praises Christian Bale’s performance and the cinematography’s sweeping vistas. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/hostiles-review/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 3 September 2017. Festival review. McCarthy finds the film a sorrowful, absorbing, estimable Western, though its grim mood may limit its audience. He especially praises Christian Bale’s subtly developed lead performance and the filmmakers’ sensitive depiction of the changing landscape. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/hostiles-review-1032266/) ## The Independent — Geoffrey Macnab Rating ★★★★☆. 4 January 2018. Macnab finds the Western striking but bleak, praising Christian Bale and Rosamund Pike’s performances and its rugged evocation of the Old West. He criticizes its predictable screenplay and traditional approach, while valuing its combination of action and soul-searching. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/film-reviews-roundup-hostiles-brad-s-status-jupiter-s-moon-walk-with-me-a8141331.html) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page could not be accessed, so the critic's verdict is unavailable. No praised or criticized element could be verified. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/hostiles-2017) ## Screen Daily — Allan Hunter Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 12 September 2017. Festival review. The accessible page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. Its standfirst singles out the journey from New Mexico to Montana as the story’s focus. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/hostiles-toronto-review/5122292.article) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 21 December 2017. The review text is unavailable, so its verdict cannot be determined. The page provides no readable details about what the critic praised or criticized. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/21/movies/hostiles-review-christian-bale.html) ## The AV Club — Ignatiy Vishnevetsky Rating C+. 14 December 2017. The critic finds the film grim and politically vapid, with its larger story failing to develop its characters. He praises a moving farewell between two soldiers, while noting that the Cheyenne characters are underdeveloped. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-old-west-is-clinically-depressed-in-the-grim-christ-1821219501) ## Evening Standard — Guy Lodge Rating 3/5. 5 January 2018. Lodge finds the film aesthetically ravishing but relentlessly stern, and ultimately handsome yet lacking novelty. He praises its widescreen landscapes and committed performances, while criticizing its underdeveloped Native American characters and cultural bias. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/going-out/hostiles-film-review-the-wild-west-never-looked-so-good-a3732591.html) ## Little White Lies — David Jenkins Rating 3/3/3. 6 January 2018. Jenkins finds the film neither notably bad nor notably good, despite its earnest approach. He praises Bale’s committed performance while noting that it dominates the screen and leaves Pike comparatively little space. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/hostiles) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 12 September 2017. Festival review. Bradshaw finds the western flawed and somewhat glib, though its immediate dramatic effects are potent. He praises its beautifully composed widescreen images and persuasive response to the grandeur of the Old West. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/sep/12/hostiles-review-christian-bale-toronto-film-festival-tiff) ## Slant Magazine — Chuck Bowen Rating 1.5/4. 15 December 2017. Bowen sharply criticizes the film’s ponderous pace and self-conscious approach to Western revisionism. He particularly faults the underdeveloped relationship between Blocker and Yellow Hawk, while praising Wes Studi’s presence. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/hostiles/) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 7 September 2017. Festival review. Debruge finds the film politically compromised and unconvincing in its attempt to redeem its white characters, despite its serious intentions. He praises its elegant widescreen imagery and Rosamund Pike’s performance, while faulting the Native characters’ thin development. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2017/film/reviews/hostiles-review-christian-bale-1202549822/) ## The New Yorker Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). The review finds the film a formulaic Western whose grim tone and pacing cannot compensate for its lack of substance. It singles out the bare script for reducing the characters to pieces on a historical chessboard. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/hostiles) ## Vulture — Emily Yoshida Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 15 December 2017. Yoshida finds the film well-intentioned but plodding, ultimately criticizing its failure to develop its Native characters. She singles out Rosamund Pike’s portrayal as a collection of trauma-related mannerisms rather than a convincing character. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2017/12/hostiles-is-a-well-intentioned-downer-of-a-western.html) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 21 December 2017. The critic strongly praises the film as a hopeful, morally searching Western. They single out Christian Bale’s performance and the film’s glorious storytelling. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/hostiles-review-christian-bale-scott-cooper-western-rosamund-pike/) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 21 December 2017. Hammond finds the film grim but powerful and relevant, with a persuasive message about racial understanding. He especially praises Christian Bale’s restrained, deeply human performance, which he says carries the film. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2017/12/hostiles-review-christian-bale-scott-cooper-western-video-1202230978/) ## The Ringer — Shea Serrano Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 29 January 2018. Serrano finds Rosamund Pike the film’s standout, delivering a deeply affecting performance. He especially praises how her expressive eyes convey Rosalie’s trauma and shifting emotions. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2018/01/29/movies/rosamund-pike-hostiles-christian-bale-western-gone-girl) ## /Film — Marshall Shaffer Rating 7 out of 10. 17 September 2017. Festival review. Shaffer finds the film uneven but full of compelling moments. He particularly praises Rosamund Pike’s performance as a source of empathy amid its cynicism and anguish. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/553324/hostiles-review/) ## Collider — Adam Chitwood Rating C+. 21 December 2017. Festival review. Chitwood finds the film a memorable, visually striking Western, though its slow pacing and thematic disconnect keep it from fully succeeding. He especially praises the haunting beauty of the New Mexico cinematography. [Read the review](https://collider.com/hostiles-review-christian-bale/) ## Den of Geek — David Crow Rating 2.5/5. 20 December 2017. Crow finds Hostiles visually exquisite and emotionally affecting, but says it buries its strengths in a repetitive, turgid eulogy for the Western. He praises Bale and Pike’s humane, affecting performances while criticizing the Native American supporting characters as clichés and ciphers. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/hostiles-review/) ## Consequence — Dominick Suzanne-Mayer Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 5 January 2018. The critic finds Hostiles uneven, with moments of real poignancy but an underdeveloped portrayal of the Native family. Rosamund Pike’s grief-stricken burial scene stands out as especially powerful. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2018/01/film-review-hostiles-captures-the-developing-west-in-all-of-its-brutality/) ## Eye for Film — Angus Wolfe Murray Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 27 December 2017. The review is largely critical, arguing that the film’s pace and closed-off lead performance make it a slog. It praises Rosamund Pike for bringing grit and color to Rosalie. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/hostiles-2017-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray) ## Paste — Andy Crump Rating 3.0/10. 22 December 2017. Crump finds the film pompous, inert, and frustratingly timid in its treatment of race. He praises Wes Studi and other Native American performers, while criticizing the film for reducing their characters to catalysts for white characters’ growth. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/hostiles/hostiles) ## The Playlist Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). Festival review. The headline signals a negative verdict, suggesting the film is overstuffed and problematic. It says the performances of Christian Bale and Rosamund Pike cannot overcome those flaws. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/hostiles-christian-bale-rosamund-pike-cant-save-overstuffed-problematic-western-telluride-20170905/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/hostiles.md