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By Hook or by Crook

Play trailer Poster for By Hook or by Crook Now Playing 1h 38m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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75% Tomatometer 20 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
"By Hook or Crook" is a buddy film that chronicles three weeks in the life of a handsome, gender-bending, small-town butch with a nagging messiah-complex. Emotionally defeated since the death of her father, Shy heads to the big city to sink herself into a life of crime. She is quickly distracted by Valentine, a deliriously expressive, wise-acre adoptee on a misguided search for her birth mother. The two freaky grifters join forces and learn the true meaning of poise under pressure.
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By Hook or by Crook

Critics Reviews

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Stef Rubino Autostraddle 07/09/2024
It’s a snapshot of what survival often looks like for people who are trying to make due with the scraps that are thrown at them from the oppressive systems that govern our world. Go to Full Review
Ren Jender Village Voice 01/17/2019
[By Hook or by Crook] has a topical resonance rare even in recent releases. Go to Full Review
Robert Koehler Variety 08/08/2008
For all of its outward appearances as a raw work of lesbian outlaw expression, Harry Dodge and Silas Warner’s “By Hook or by Crook” is really a corny old romance at heart, with almost all the attendant cliches intact. Go to Full Review
Patrick McDonald HollywoodChicago.com 4d
4/5
Filled beginning-of-millennia San Francisco fringes, the film has an authenticity about the moment, but still manages a truth that is right at home today. Two renegades create their own world, and end up saving themselves. W/interview. Go to Full Review
Harper Rochel Goldman MovieJawn 6d
What’s most striking about By Hook or by Crook is how radically real it feels, even in today’s trans film landscape. Go to Full Review
Kathy Fennessy Seattle Film Blog Jun 18
3.5/4
By letting Shy and Val be who they are, rather than trying to define them, By Hook or by Crook feels not necessarily timeless, but less frozen-in-amber than I would have expected. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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09/29/2018 One of the best trans movies with heartbreaking performances by all, like Killer of Sheep, its brilliance is in part knowing that it is someone's first film. This means that in order to captivate the audience it has to entirely rely on explaining a context of the characters' reality all from within, which is a real feat of dialogue and a low-budget independent capacity. But I also was captivated by a sense of danger that seems to blend reality and fiction. Also, it should be said that not all movies have the added burden of being aware that as a film and the characters portrayed it may possibly be the only representation that a broader audience may see, and never un-see. This film makes you imagine what it might be like to care for someone who constantly breaks the law just for being who they are. See more 02/09/2009 I thought this was an average film. It's interesting how all the descriptions of this movie say this is about lesbians when it's really about transgendered individuals. See more 01/30/2008 Not particularly good -- meaning navigable, remotely entertaining, pleasing to the eye -- it does, rather nobly, want to hip its audience to gender fluidity. See more 01/19/2008 Low budget but good. I might even say groundbreaking. There's some pretty good quotes too. See more 11/22/2007 this is a quirky, low production value, community-centered, no nonsense, BUTCH film of everyday genderfucking brilliance. Touching, very hilarious, GREAT! See more 09/08/2007 i love love love this movie..valentine is my hero! See more Read all reviews
By Hook or by Crook

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Movie Info

Synopsis "By Hook or Crook" is a buddy film that chronicles three weeks in the life of a handsome, gender-bending, small-town butch with a nagging messiah-complex. Emotionally defeated since the death of her father, Shy heads to the big city to sink herself into a life of crime. She is quickly distracted by Valentine, a deliriously expressive, wise-acre adoptee on a misguided search for her birth mother. The two freaky grifters join forces and learn the true meaning of poise under pressure.
Director
Harry Dodge, Silas Howard
Producer
Silas Howard, Harry Dodge, Steak House
Screenwriter
Harry Dodge, Silas Howard
Distributor
Artistic License
Production Co
Steakhaus Productions
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 25, 2002, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Jun 12, 2026
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 4, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.8K
Runtime
1h 38m
Sound Mix
Stereo