---
title: "Irreversible: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/irreversible/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/irreversible"
critics_score: 57
critics_reviews: 8
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."
---

# Irreversible (2002): what the critics said

Critics' score 57 from 8 reviews: 4 positive, 2 mixed, 2 negative.

The reviews are sharply divided, with praise outnumbering outright rejection but little agreement on what the film achieves. Favourable reviews find its distressing material emotionally forceful and thought-provoking, with praise clustering around Noé’s camerawork, the reverse chronology and the performances of Monica Bellucci and Vincent Cassel. Bellucci receives particular attention for her responses to both danger and happiness. Even admirers describe the violence as difficult, sometimes nearly impossible, to watch.

The disagreement concerns whether that ordeal serves a purpose. The Guardian finds the violence squalid and the reversed chronology less effective than earlier examples; the Los Angeles Times regards the film as exploitative shock cinema, objecting especially to the prolonged, voyeuristic depiction of rape. These are substantial objections to choices that supporters find meaningful, rather than minor reservations. The available excerpts from two further reviews offer no clear verdict, limiting what can be said about the middle ground.

## Radio Times — Sloan Freer

Rating 4/5. 

The critic describes the film as an intense, haunting nightmare that is difficult to watch but hard to forget. They praise Vincent Cassel and Monica Bellucci for their powerful performances.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-ss2ac9/irreversible/)

## Variety — Lisa Nesselson

Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 24 May 2002. Festival review. 

Nesselson finds the film demanding but rewarding, calling it an emotionally devastating work of art. She especially praises Noé’s controlled, fluid camerawork and the performances, singling out Bellucci’s responses to peril and joy.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2002/film/markets-festivals/irreversible-1200549352/)

## Empire — Alan Morrison

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. 

The review calls the film distressing but important and thought-provoking. It praises the reverse structure as meaningful social art.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/irreversible-review/)

## Screen Daily — Sheila Johnston

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 29 May 2002. 

The page identifies this as a review, but its verdict is hidden behind the paywall. The visible text gives no praise or complaint.

[Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/irreversible/409461.article)

## Time Out — NB

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 

The available excerpt plunges the viewer into a violent, disorienting experience. It singles out the graphic violence and the film’s narrative reversal, but gives no clear verdict.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/irreversible)

## The Guardian — Philip French

Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 3 February 2003. 

French finds the film squalid and pretentious rather than an effective story of revenge. He objects particularly to its graphic violence and says its reverse chronology is less effective than earlier examples.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/News_Story/Critic_Review/Observer_review/0,,887995,00.html)

## Los Angeles Times — Manohla Dargis

Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 7 March 2003. 

Dargis condemns the film as exploitative, tedious shock cinema rather than meaningful formal experimentation. She singles out its prolonged, voyeuristic rape scene as especially objectionable.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-mar-07-et-manohla7-story.html)

## Eye for Film — Angus Wolfe Murray

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 13 July 2002. 

The critic calls the film astonishing and ground-breaking, while condemning its extreme sexual violence as nearly unwatchable. They single out Noé’s reverse chronology and unsettling visual method for admiration.

[Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/irreversible-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray)

---
© 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/irreversible.md