Pariah

Audience Reviews

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Johann D. M @Johann33 Jun 7, 2026 🏳️‍🌈 This coming-of-age drama tells the story of Alike, a 17-year-old Black teenager from Brooklyn who struggles to reconcile conflicting identities while risking friendship, heartbreak, and family acceptance in her search for self-discovery and sexual expression. The film is elevated by Adepero Oduye's exceptional and deeply authentic performance, which grounds Alike's journey in honesty and emotional realism. Her exploration of identity captures the challenges of growing up in a deeply homophobic household with remarkable sensitivity and nuance. Dee Rees' direction is confident and thoughtful, while the smart cinematography and carefully selected soundtrack complement the story perfectly. The social commentary is clear without feeling forced, and the film's documentary-like realism makes its emotional moments all the more impactful. Ultimately, Pariah delivers a powerful and effective message, culminating in a triumphant and memorable ending. See more Scott R @ScottR Jun 4, 2026 NYT 1000 films that wasn’t for me. I didn’t find the narrative compelling and lost interest. Saw on box. See more Fong Kok Hoong F @RT29722865 Oct 8, 2023 Singled out as one of her favorite performances by Meryl Streep in her acceptance speech at the Golden Globes for THE IRON LADY, Adepero Oduye definitely deserves the shout-out for her nuanced portrayal of a Black female teenager coming of age brazening parental disappointment and betrayal in Dee Rees' perceptive directorial debut. See more creative u @RT08453977 Sep 19, 2022 Beautifully shot and acted film about a Black teenage girl exploring her sexuality and her gender expression in spite of those around her. Amazing performances from Adepero Oduye and Kim Wayans. This is one of those films that should get more love from the LGBTQ community, but much like other films that center the Black queer experience, like Moonlight and The Watermelon Woman, it's often times ignored, which is a shame. See more Jul 25, 2021 Every once in a while, you come across a film that feels less like a movie and more like someone's story; Pariah is a great example of that. It is an amazing film that shines a spotlight on many of the struggles that LGBTQ+ teens and LGBTQ+ people in general face. This entire cast does an incredible job delivering exceptionally authentic performances. Speaking of authenticity, the camerawork gives the film a very real feel. On top of that, the dialogue feels organic and the top-notch performances contribute to that. It is clear that writer/director Dee Rees is a talent. As I mentioned, Pariah feels less like a movie and more like someone's story. What I mean by that is it doesn't feel like an artificial narrative that someone created; instead it feels like an experience that many teens have had to endure and, sadly, that is true. Pariah isn't just a great film, it is an important film. It's a film that highlights just how horrible and destructive homophobia is. See more Autumn M @RT26919073 May 16, 2021 Pariah is the story of a young black lesbian. I really enjoyed the movie. Ms. Oduye gave a very nuanced and subtle performance in her role. Also, it was interesting to contrast the story of Alike to that of her friend. This is a story that needed to be told. Recommended! See more Read all reviews

Pariah

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