JustWatch
Advertisement
SummaryWith her family’s livelihood imperiled by the farm crisis of the 1980s, eleven-year-old Gitty (Peyton Kennedy) loses herself in a world of fantasy and make believe. But she stumbles into her own fairytale when she makes a startling discovery: a well-dressed mystery man (Richard Schiff) being held captive in her family’s silo. It’s the beginning o... Read More

Directed By:Anne Hamilton

Written By:Anne Hamilton

American Fable

Metascore
55
User score
Mixed or Average
6.0
My Score
Drag or tap to give a rating
Hover and click to give a rating

Where to Watch

Not available in your country?
Get 3 Extra months free
$6.67/mth
Advertisement
Metascore
55
38% Positive
3 Reviews
63% Mixed
5 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
Feb 17, 2017
75
RogerEbert.com
American Fable is ambitious, maybe too much so sometimes, but there's an intense pleasure in the boldness of the film's style, its confidence in what it is about.
Feb 15, 2017
70
Village Voice
The film beguiles more than it thrills, its plotting never quite measuring up to its atmosphere or its suggestions of deeper meanings.
User score
Mixed or Average
6.0
54% Positive
7 Ratings
31% Mixed
4 Ratings
15% Negative
2 Ratings
  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
Nov 23, 2021
8
DawdlingPoet
This is a very mysterious, slightly dark (spooky) and part fantasy based film. Most of the film has a yellow tinge, which helps give it a bright and artificial feel somehow. I thought the actress Peyton Kennedy, who plays the main character, Gitty, gave a particularly good performance. There's some interesting and thoughtful dialogue and it has good use of background music/sounds. The family dynamics element I found particularly intriguing. Its not scary but its definitely spooky and I thought that overall, its a decently made film, which I'd recommend.
Feb 4, 2018
7
LeZee
So innocent, imaginative young kid, and then there's an adult world full of complications. A thriller from a debutante writer, director. Obviously she did not get support from a big production house, but within the small scale, she has given a nice film. Of course, there were a few flaws. Particularly in the writing section. Overall, the film is very intriguing. The music, locations, performances supported the narration so well. This could be one of the under-noticed film, due to unfamiliar cast and crew. But surely a decent film. The story of a farmer family. In a small rural America, where farmers are surrendering to death for unable to pay back the loans, a 11 year old girl is not disturbed by the adult's way of life. Her best friend, a chicken named Happy, roam all over surrounding places. One day she finds a man trapped in her silo. They two becomes friends and help each others needs. But the girl never knew there's a complication behind meeting him. And when that breaks loose, drastically things changes and brings an end to the narration with a twist. The storyline was good, but kind of reminds 'Pan's Labyrinth'. This was more a thriller than a fantasy, yet a few scenes defines it could be influenced by fable as the title say. It had a philosophical touch too. The timeline of the tale was 1980s and in the eyes of adult, it is a perfect thriller that focused on the farmers' issue. But, since the story was narrated from the eyes of a kid, that's where magical perspective blooms. So the mix of both these things makes the film very special. -xX] Important people don't have to say they're important. [Xx- When it comes to the film's drawback, the curves of the storytelling, the scenes were not smoothened enough. I mean the ideas were awesome, but small-small thing had hard time to get away with a perfect blend. For example, the girl could have broken the door/lock from the outside or given foods and other items through the window, instead of climbing up. But the major parts of the film had nothing wrong and can be enjoyed. What it all says is the rookie mistake, but surely the filmmaker has talent and hoping her next one would be a top notch. The little girl was very impressive. It reminds many big stars of the present who once did such a wonderful film as a child artist. So I wish her future to be great. She was all over the film, the rest of the cast had little scope, but they all did good as well. Predicting the story is not hard, but there's always one thing bothers is that the doubt between reality and fiction. You know it's not usual for one to find a man trapped in a silo. It has to be one way or the other as I've said. For that, you have to wait till the commencement of the third act. Because sometimes, the could be the film's greatest twist. As I've said, it was not a perfect thriller. Nor ignorable! Most of the scene seems intentional, because they were initiated in the early stage like an intro, only in the latter half, once again, they were brought into the narration with the following consequences. How such things were used to complete the storytelling was well planned design. On this, don't believe the film critics. Me either, if you are not a film fanatic. But all I say is, it is not a bad film as you see on the internet. Those who takes chances and appreciates small scale films should try it. But generally, I recommend it to all! 7/10
Feb 16, 2017
67
Consequence
While American Fable isn’t without its share of flaws, it’s the type of inventive production that hints of happier endings to come.
Feb 16, 2017
60
Variety
Gorgeously shot, and helmed with a sense of daring and verve that belies Hamilton’s greenness to feature filmmaking, this is a debut of obvious promise, although its story never quite rises to the level of its craft.
Feb 16, 2017
60
Los Angeles Times
Whatever license the word “fable” grants Hamilton, it doesn’t redeem the narrative muddle. But there’s an undeniable gutsiness to her filmmaking. The American dreamscape she creates is memorably unsettling.
Mar 5, 2017
50
The Hollywood Reporter
American Fable possesses an amorphous, dreamlike quality that proves increasingly irritating as it wears on.
Feb 16, 2017
40
The New York Times
It’s a nice opening for a movie that spirals into nonsense.
See All 8 Critic Reviews
Aug 31, 2018
4
Slovenly_Muse
Should have been titled "American Remake of the 2004 Italian Film 'I'm Not Scared.'" This film makes some changes to the concept, but unfortunately the movie suffers for them. While the film is right to focus on Gitty's coming-of-age experience instead of the minute details of the situation, it leaves too many loose ends, and takes too many unsatisfying turns, to meet the standard of its obvious inspiration.
See All 13 User Reviews
Advertisement
Feb 17, 2017
1 h 36 m
New Hampshire Film Festival
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Savannah Film Festival
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
The Joey Awards, Vancouver
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Advertisement
Advertisement
Related Content: ijumpman | fishie fishie | lucha libre aaa heroes del ring | disgaea 4 a promise unforgotten medic | disgaea 4 a promise unforgotten pirohiko ichimonji | four in a row 2010 | zombie square | super sniper hd | the will of dr frankenstein | chuck e cheeseand39s party games alley roller