--- title: "When You're Strange: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/when-youre-strange/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/when-youre-strange" critics_score: 46 critics_reviews: 12 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." --- # When You're Strange (2010): what the critics said Critics' score 46 from 12 reviews: 3 positive, 4 mixed, 5 negative. The critics split on When You’re Strange, and the negatives have the edge. What nearly all of them agree on is the archival footage: previously unseen film of Jim Morrison and the band on stage, pristine recordings and intimate scenes, with one concert sequence of fans and hostile police singled out. Even the harshest reviews concede the footage is the film’s strongest asset, and the warmest, in The Guardian and Empire, call the documentary gripping and essential for fans. The disagreement is over what DiCillo does with that material. Most critics find the narration simplistic, several call the film shallow on the cultural context around the band, and the sharpest complain that it is dull and reverent, reducing the Doors’ story to a flat retelling. Variety and Slant are the fiercest dissenters, both arguing that the editing and voiceover squander the footage. The spread is wide: a few recommendations, a cluster of measured three-star verdicts, and nearly half the reviews firmly negative. ## Empire — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 22 June 2010. Newman finds the documentary essential for Doors fans and enlightening for newcomers. He especially praises its rare archival footage and close attention to the band’s music. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/re-strange-review/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 1 July 2010. Bradshaw finds the documentary weirdly gripping and says there is much to find fascinating. He especially praises the sensational archival footage of Jim Morrison, including a striking concert scene with fans and hostile police. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/jul/01/when-youre-strange-the-doors-review) ## Screen Daily — David D'Arcy Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 19 January 2009. Festival review. The page identifies this as a review, but its text is unavailable behind a paywall. The critic’s verdict and any specific praise or complaint cannot be determined. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/documentaries/when-youre-strange/4042684.article) ## Time Out Rating 3/5. 6 April 2010. The three-star rating suggests a measured verdict, though the full review text is unavailable. The description presents the film as a tribute to the Doors and singles out the band’s emblematic 1960s identity and Jim Morrison. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/when-youre-strange) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Kirk Honeycutt Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 26 January 2009. Festival review. Honeycutt finds the documentary watchable and worthwhile for Doors fans, though it would work better as a DVD or VOD release. He praises the archival footage and its account of the band’s performances, while faulting its shallow cultural context and limited attention to the family and band members. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/film-review-youre-strange-92813/) ## Radio Times — Terry Staunton Rating 2/5. The critic finds the documentary shallow despite the Doors’ enduring musical appeal. They single out its simplistic narration and lack of insight as key weaknesses. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-oju1mr/when-youre-strange/) ## Los Angeles Times — Randy Lewis Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 9 April 2010. Lewis finds the documentary superficial and lacking creative spark or historical insight. He praises the previously unseen footage and pristine recordings, but says they do little to compensate for its thin storytelling. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-apr-09-la-et-strange9-2010apr09-story.html) ## Slant Magazine — Andrew Schenker Rating 0.5/4. 5 April 2010. Schenker gives the film a sharply negative review, calling it an unimaginative and reductive retelling of the Doors’ story. He singles out the archival footage as the film’s strongest asset, while criticizing how DiCillo edits and frames it. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/when-youre-strange-a-film-about-the-doors/) ## Variety — Rob Nelson Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 19 January 2009. Festival review. Nelson pans the documentary as disastrously inane and says it deserves no theatrical release. He faults its banal, often inaccurate narration for squandering the abundant archival footage. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/when-you-re-strange-2-1200473240/) ## Eye for Film — Daniel Hooper Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 6 September 2010. Hooper regards the documentary as the definitive cinematic account of The Doors, despite some limitations. He praises the rare archival footage for balancing the band’s infamous moments with intimate scenes and the atmosphere of the era. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/when-youre-strange-film-review-by-daniel-hooper) ## The Playlist Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 9 April 2010. The URL identifies this as a review, but the blocked page provides no verdict to assess. Its praise or criticism cannot be verified from the available text. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/review-when-youre-strange-is-pretty-20100409/) ## NME — James McMahon Fi1m's normalised score 15/100 (inferred from the text). The critic finds the documentary dull and argues that its straight factual approach makes The Doors seem hollow. They single out the dry reverence for the band as a key weakness. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-the-doors-11450-305997) --- © 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/when-youre-strange.md