--- title: "The Horse Whisperer: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-horse-whisperer/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-horse-whisperer" critics_score: 68 critics_reviews: 9 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." --- # The Horse Whisperer (1998): what the critics said Critics' score 68 from 9 reviews: 4 positive, 5 mixed, 0 negative. 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 — Joshua Klein Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 29 March 2002. 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. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-horse-whisperer-1798194791) ## Empire — Angie Errigo Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. 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. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/horse-whisperer-review/) ## Variety — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 4 May 1998. 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. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1998/film/reviews/the-horse-whisperer-redford-lassos-powerful-saga-1200453807/) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The review text was unavailable, so its verdict cannot be determined. No praise or complaint could be verified from the accessible page. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-horse-whisperer-1998) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 15 May 1998. 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. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1998/05/15/movies/film-review-healing-a-girl-her-horse-and-maybe-even-her-mother.html) ## Time Out — TCh Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 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. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-horse-whisperer) ## Radio Times — Adrian Turner Rating 3/5. 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. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-roff6g/the-horse-whisperer/) ## Total Film — Total Film Rating 3/5. 28 August 1998. 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. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-horse-whisperer-review/) ## Eye for Film — Angus Wolfe Murray Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 19 January 2001. 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. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-horse-whisperer-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/the-horse-whisperer.md