An alleged cautionary tale that revels in bad behavior for nearly two hours before finally offering up a stern "tsk, tsk, tsk."
New York Times March 26, 2015 I was drained and quivering with fury and disgust.
New York Post March 25, 2015 Scherfig, who showed such subtlety in "An Education," this time proves embarrassingly vulgar, giving the film the unfortunate aura of an angry leaf...
Toronto Sun March 26, 2015 The Riot Club is, finally, a monster movie. Which I suppose is what some become who are too rich and powerful to be bothered with inhibitions...
Variety September 18, 2014 Brits might object to such an enraging portrayal, which veers between salacious and cynical, though Scherfig’s unique perspective is just one...
RogerEbert.com March 27, 2015 It’s a film that seems to have no further point than to remind us that some powerful jerks were once powerful jerk kids. Point taken, bu...
Toronto Star March 26, 2015 The Riot Club comes with the dubious ambition of instructing us as to the evil ways of spoiled British toffs, as if that were needed.
For a movie about a bunch of debauched Oxford swells, The Riot Club is remarkably lacking in wit…and debauchery, for that matter.
The Guardian September 18, 2014 It’s a sharp satirical cartoon of English class warfare and class conspiracy – though it fudges a final point of plot-jeopardy and I sus...
Daily Telegraph September 7, 2014 Some of the supporting performances are so hammily spiteful and giggly they let the side down, but the film is perfectly cast in its main roles.
Although the performances are uniformly on point and the dialogue is tartly British, the film ultimately fails to earn its riotous stripes.
The Guardian September 22, 2014 The performances of the young cast are committedly brittle, especially Ben Schnetzer playing the antithesis of his Tory-baiting role in Pride.
[An] engaging but malignant look at male privilege run amok.
Who’s up for a little blunt-force social commentary about the haves and have-nots, set in the rarefied clime of Oxford University?
Independent September 26, 2014 The ensemble of handsome young British actors donning the requisite tailcoats and arrogant airs are all too seductively believable, and it is the f...
It’s almost as if the film has been designed to make fans of Downton Abbey realise the error of their ways. Are you impressed – aroused...
Lone Scherfig’s limp state-of-the-nation address is powered solely by grotesque stereotypes.
It’s all quite superficial, but never less than gripping, and is aided by an ending that at least doesn’t compromise too much-the movie...
The Guardian September 7, 2014 Conflicting our sympathies serves the work well. Both play and film button-push, but the substantial changes made in the transfer soften the grotes...
Hollywood Reporter September 18, 2014 While the dark drama is never dull, its portrait of upper-crust entitlement run amok is seldom surprising either.
Irish Times September 20, 2014 The Riot Club can’t always transcend its theatrical origins, but there’s a nasty sting lurking under all those high spirits and al...
