Critics’ reviews

The Horse Whisperer (1998)

9 reviews from 9 publications. Critics’ score 68: 4 positive, 5 mixed, 0 negative.

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68
Positive
4
Mixed
5
Negative
0

The reviews lean towards qualified approval, with praise clustering around the Montana scenery, the performances and the patient handling of the emotions. Critics who respond warmly find an old-fashioned romance that gives its characters’ feelings time to develop without forcing them. The opening accident also draws attention for its frightening intensity, while the casting of Redford and Kristin Scott Thomas earns approval. Across the accessible reviews, the film’s care and craftsmanship are more consistently admired than its storytelling.

Length and pacing account for the clearest reservations: several critics find the story too slight or slow to sustain the running time, particularly as the romance progresses. The spread is mostly between appreciative and mixed, with no outright negative verdict recorded. Eye for Film is notably more enthusiastic, singling out Scott Thomas’s emotional subtlety. Three reviews have insufficient accessible text to establish their reasoning, which limits how fully the apparent agreement can be described.

The AV Club
29 March 2002 · Joshua Klein
75*

Klein finds the film haunting and beautiful, with a patient, emotionally unforced approach. He especially praises its striking landscapes and the frightening intensity of the opening accident.

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Empire
1 January 2000 · Angie Errigo
70*

Errigo finds it a beautifully crafted, moving old-fashioned romance, though its story is too slight for its length and its appeal is limited for younger viewers. She particularly praises the striking visuals and the poignancy of the country dance between Tom and Annie.

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Variety
4 May 1998 · Todd McCarthy
70*

McCarthy finds the film an intelligent, emotionally powerful and mature adaptation, though its length and restrained romance weaken its final stretch. He praises the performances, striking Montana visuals and careful direction for bringing the material vividly to life.

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RogerEbert.com
64*

The review text was unavailable, so its verdict cannot be determined. No praise or complaint could be verified from the accessible page.

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The New York Times
15 May 1998
64*

The page content is inaccessible, so the critic’s verdict cannot be established. The URL headline suggests a focus on healing a girl, her horse, and her mother, but specific praise or criticism cannot be verified.

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Time Out
· TCh
64*

The available text is too limited to establish the critic’s overall verdict. It describes Redford’s character as an idealised figure, but the review’s specific praise or complaint is not available.

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Radio Times
★★★ · Adrian Turner
60

Turner’s review is appreciative of the casting, saying Redford suits the role and Kristin Scott Thomas is a natural choice. He singles out the opening accident as horrifying to watch.

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Total Film
28 August 1998 · ★★★ · Total Film
60

The review finds the film thoughtful and well-made, but overly long and slow. It praises the performances and Montana scenery, while noting that the pacing undermines the film’s strengths.

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Eye for Film
19 January 2001 · Angus Wolfe Murray
90*

The critic gives the film a strongly positive verdict, calling its story rare and its execution accomplished. They single out Kristin Scott Thomas’s performance for its emotional subtlety and contemporary edge.

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Ordered by the weight we give each publication, then by score. Scores are normalised to 100; * means inferred from an unrated review. Summaries are ours, not quotations; follow the links for the reviews themselves. How we rate