Jon Bernthal plays a washed-up rodeo star turned motel keeper in Sweet Virginia, and Christian Abbott plays an unpredictable hitman who becomes his unlikely friend. The 2017 neo-noir is set in a snow-covered town in rural Alaska, and it should have been a lay-up for the critics. Instead, it landed flat.
The film has an 81% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences gave it a 69%. On IMDB, it scores 6.2 out of 10. That’s not terrible, but it’s not a breakout either. For a cast with one beloved star in particular, the reception is baffling.
Opening Scene
The film opens with an uncharacteristic bang. Before the credits roll, three townies are dead. A guy walks into a bar, sees his buddies arguing about an upcoming election, and everything is normal. Then a young fellow waltzes in, demanding an early bird special. When he is politely told it is too late, he retaliates with sudden violence.
The film is much more dependent on a rising unease between the two leads than on the plot itself. That is also the defining strength of Sweet Virginia.
Critic vs. Audience
Critics loved it. Audiences were less impressed. The gap between the two numbers suggests a disconnect between professional judgment and viewer patience.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the critics’ score is 81%, which is strong. On IMDB, the score is 6.2 out of 10. That is just above average, not a disaster, but it is a modest result for a film with this cast.
Pace Complaints
Some viewers complained the pacing was slow. That complaint is defended vigorously in the film’s defense, which calls it both inaccurate and misguided. The pace was careful and thoughtful, the argument goes, and anyone who expected an action-packed whirlwind would be disappointed.
The defense also admits the plot is predictable. That admission is paired with praise for the director’s work and the script’s respect for the noir genre.
What Works
The eerie score and the strong leading cast are the beating heart of the film. The defense praises the director’s direction and the script’s resistance to poking at the noir genre within it.
The slow-burn approach is defended as an essential quality of a noir mystery. Calling things “slow” is easy, but a chilly night spent falling into a truly gripping story is better than scrolling.
Second Look
The film deserves an honest second look. The defense frames the film as a hidden gem. The cast, the direction, and the script all delivered expert-level execution.
The film’s defenders want the public to see it again. They want the attention economy to pause long enough to appreciate a slow-burn thriller.
Key Numbers
| Metric | Score |
|---|---|
| Rotten Tomatoes (critics) | 81% |
| IMDB | 6.2/10 |
| Audience (Rotten Tomatoes) | 69% |
The Verdict
The film is a hidden gem. It is slow, deliberately so, and it respects its genre. The defenders are right that the pacing complaints are both inaccurate and misguided.
Sweet Virginia is worth revisiting. The 81% critic score is a strong signal. The 6.2/10 IMDB score is a reminder that audiences can be pickier than critics.
See the video the story is built around at Collider.
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