Standing by Yourself Reviews
ReelTalk Movie Reviews
Chilling in its objective portrait of dreary, lost twenty-first century America.
Film Threat
Shattering, devastating documentary on two maladjusted teens in a downward narcotized spiral. Extraordinary debut from Josh Koury.
Full Review
| Original Score: 5/5
Film Journal International
This viewer was plain bored by this latest attempt at exposing "youth truth."
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Expanded to 65 minutes for theatrical release, it still feels somewhat unfinished.
Full Review
| Original Score: 2.5/5
Top CriticThe longer one watches this determinedly ragged portrait of blue-collar teenage desperation ... the more one gets absorbed in the utter unbridled nihilism of its 'characters.'
Full Review
| Original Score: 2.5/4
Sad to say -- it accurately reflects the rage and alienation that fuels the self-destructiveness of many young people.
| Original Score: 3/4
Highly irritating at first, Mr. Koury's passive technique eventually begins to yield some interesting results.
Full Review
| Original Score: 3.5/5
MovieMartyr.com
Likely to expertly drum up repressed teenage memories in any viewer.
Full Review
| Original Score: 3.5/4
Filmcritic.com
Standing by Yourself is haunting...[It's] what punk rock music used to be, and what the video medium could use more of: spirit, perception, conviction.
Full Review
| Original Score: 3.5/5
Slant Magazine
Koury frighteningly and honestly exposes one teenager's uncomfortable class resentment and, in turn, his self-inflicted retaliation.
Full Review
| Original Score: 3/4
Offoffoff
I saw the same kind of zombification happen to plenty of kids. It made my heart ache.
Full Review
| Original Score: 2.5/4
