50
Graceland is terrific entertainment, but I can’t decide if it’s a cautionary tale, an exercise in moral relativism, or an exploitation film. There’s the final conundrum.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
88
The film's plot isn't unusual, but director Ron Morales strips it down to its primal essence.
40
Striking the right balance between interior and exterior can mean the difference between compelling drama and accidental melodrama. Writer-director Ron Morales just misses equilibrium in the visually arresting Filipino thriller Graceland.
88
New York Post by Farran Smith Nehme
Morales’ spin on the old ransom plot is fresher and more gripping than most big-budget Hollywood products.
75
Mezmerizing in fits and starts, Graceland doesn't coalesce into the "important" thriller it seeks to be.
90
Los Angeles Times by Gary Goldstein
Graceland is a tense, twisty cinematic artichoke brimming with moral complexity and intriguing shades of gray.
90
The New York Times by Jeannette Catsoulis
Even while embracing the breathless beats of the crime thriller, Graceland holds tight to its concern for exploited children.
83
The A.V. Club by Tasha Robinson
It’s a dark, grim, suffocating story that only missteps by overplaying its hand, making the larger message about prostitution increasingly overt.