74
Metascore
14 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 90Film ThreatFilm ThreatIn the hands of a less capable director and actor, the thriller elements would be squeezed out to the very last drop; the film would be yet another tired exercise in suspense. That is not what Sweat is going for. It is not trying to make you breathless from cheap tension; its goal is to leave you breathless from an aesthetic and storytelling perspective. Without a doubt, it achieves that goal.
- 90VarietyGuy LodgeVarietyGuy LodgeWith her eerily flawless image and pathological narcissism, it would be all too easy to make Sylwia a monstrous figure of fun — yet the more circumstances turn against her, the more nuance and moral curiosity von Horn and Koleśnik find beneath her hyper-contoured surface.
- 83IndieWireEric KohnIndieWireEric KohnThe most intense look at a social media-obsessed loner since “Eighth Grade,” Swedish director Von Horn’s Polish-language feature finds its character wrestling with the nature of her popularity, until she’s forced to confront the disconnect between her public and personal existence in vivid detail.
- 80The Hollywood ReporterDeborah YoungThe Hollywood ReporterDeborah YoungIn her first leading role, Kolesnik is as irresistible as an energy bar, exploring the Insta-queen’s shallow depths with cunning sincerity. Rather inevitably, she overshadows the rest of the pro cast.
- 80Time OutHuw OliverTime OutHuw OliverThe direction is sharp, the camerawork in-your-face, and the lilting synth score by Piotr Kurek recalls Drive – as do Sylwia’s neon outfits. And through it all, Koleśnik gives a remarkable performance that nails the public/private schism at the heart of Instagram celebrity.
- 75RogerEbert.comRogerEbert.comVon Horn has crafted an impressive art film that tells a story outside of the pathological narcissism commonly associated with the world of social media influencers. Even surrounded by the alarmingly curated lifestyle, von Horn and Koleśnik together bring to life a story with more nuance, sophistication and genuine moral curiosity than we’ve seen from the genre.
- 67The Film StageMatt CipollaThe Film StageMatt CipollaWhile von Horn’s script has trouble fitting its themes and plot together, Magdalena Koleśnik’s performance commands the good and the bad.
- 63Slant MagazineMark HansonSlant MagazineMark HansonSweat mostly adheres to a time-honored tale of the pitfalls of fame, despite its ultra-modern context.
- 63Movie NationRoger MooreMovie NationRoger MooreComing to a too-obvious conclusion aside, if there’s a better minimalist parable for “living online,” I’m hard pressed to think of it.