Hysteria (2011)

All Critics (118) | Top Critics (32) | Fresh (68) | Rotten (50) | DVD (2)

Director Tanya Wexler plays things broadly at times, but "Hysteria" has good fun with history while coming off far more wholesome than salacious.

June 15, 2012 Full Review

Tom Long

Detroit News

Top Critic

Its 95 minutes move along nicely, and Everett - languid as a cat in a sunbeam - makes his too-brief scenes into master classes of comedy.

June 14, 2012 Full Review

Moira MacDonald

Seattle Times

Top Critic

As a sex-education comedy, "Hysteria" is flaccid, forced and unfunny.

June 8, 2012 Full Review

Joe Williams

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Top Critic

The problem with "Hysteria" is that it keeps patting itself and us on the back for knowing better.

June 7, 2012 Full Review

Ty Burr

Boston Globe

Top Critic

Hysteria never gets too preachy or ponderous, and there's something in the film to educate even the most learned viewer.

June 7, 2012 Full Review

Rene Rodriguez

Miami Herald

Top Critic

The movie also makes all the right noises about female sexual liberation. But its good intentions are undermined by sniggering jokes...

June 1, 2012 Full Review

Rafer Guzman

Newsday

Top Critic

When you think of vibrators, 'charming' probably isn't the first word that comes to mind.

March 4, 2013 Full Review

Tom Glasson

Concrete Playground

Given the allure of learning the origins of something as buzzworthy as the vibrator, Hysteria provides just enough pleasures to give it a pass.

October 22, 2012 Full Review

Erick Weber

NECN

Don't be fooled by the period costumes and British accents, Hysteria is as obvious and pandering as comedies get.

October 2, 2012 Full Review

Eric Melin

Scene-Stealers.com

The film's light-hearted fictionalising of real events combines a mild feminist history lesson with mildly saucy fun.

October 2, 2012 Full Review

Jason Best

Movie Talk

Bizarrely, this film is as about as inoffensive as it gets, despite the fact it contains uncountable scenes of Hugh Dancy wanking off bored housewives...

September 27, 2012 Full Review

Adam Ross

The Aristocrat

There's probably a fascinating, complex story behind the invention of the vibrator in 19th century London, but this silly farce isn't it

September 25, 2012 Full Review

Rich Cline

Contactmusic.com

These are gifted actors who have a decent sense of timing, so they're able to add a hint of gravitas beneath the surface while avoiding most of the stereotypes

September 25, 2012 Full Review

Rich Cline

Shadows on the Wall

[B]reezy, witty, and only gently naughty... [H]ello, steampunk orgasm!

September 21, 2012 Full Review

MaryAnn Johanson

Flick Filosopher

It's all rather sweet in its way, as it treads gingerly round and round its subject. Nicely acted too, especially by Gyllenhaal and Pryce.

September 21, 2012 Full Review

Derek Malcolm

This is London

Beneath its saucy surface Hysteria is a rather sweet romantic comedy.

September 21, 2012 Full Review

Allan Hunter

Daily Express

Sadly, a decent cast, including Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jonathan Pryce and Hugh Dancy, are constrained by a safe script when a spot of wild abandon was required.

September 20, 2012 Full Review

Sun Online

Maggie Gyllenhaal channels Emma Thompson on heat. No sale.

September 20, 2012 Full Review

Basia Cummings

Little White Lies

Gyllenhaal rises above the tedium; sadly, not far enough. Great English accent, though.

September 20, 2012 Full Review

David Cox

Guardian [UK]

Hysteria is a history lesson customised as a costume comedy.

September 20, 2012 Full Review

Nigel Andrews

Financial Times

It's a buzz.

September 20, 2012 Full Review

Tim Evans

Sky Movies

Tanya Wexler's staggeringly bad period comedy wears out its AA batteries fast, despite its teasing premise.

September 20, 2012 Full Review

Robbie Collin

Daily Telegraph

Neither funny enough nor serious enough, Hysteria is a series of constant disappointments and cringe-worthy gags which, in a different era, would probably have ended up as a film called Carry On Climax.

September 19, 2012 Full Review

Film4

Hysteria is nicely played and has its fair share of decent moments, but the script struggles to find the right tone and it's hard to escape the feeling that the actual true story might have been a bit more interesting.

September 19, 2012 Full Review

Matthew Turner

ViewLondon

Hysteria features impressive costumes and sets, but its revolutionary ideas are often lacking due to its overly sexual topic.

September 17, 2012 Full Review

Karen Benardello

We Got This Covered

Lightly humorous, well performed and not nearly as smutty as you might imagine. The earth may not move, but there are tingles of pleasure along the way.

September 16, 2012 Full Review

Anna Smith

Empire Magazine

• 1. Mortimer Granville: That is the spot indeed.
  – Submitted by Ging S (12 months ago)
• 1. Mortimer Granville: Don't stop.
  2. Edmund St. John-Smythe: I think you're enjoying yourself too much.
  3. Mortimer Granville: It makes your hand feel all...warm and tingly. I feel it right down to the bone.
  4. Edmund St. John-Smythe: Oh really?
  5. Mortimer Granville: Turn it back on.
  – Submitted by Ging S (12 months ago)
• 1. Charlotte Dalrymple: Must be difficult pleasuring half the women in the city.
  – Submitted by Chris P (13 months ago)
• 1. Emily Dalrymple: Wether you seek it or not Dr. Granville, you are destined for fame.
  – Submitted by Chris P (13 months ago)

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