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War Pony

Play trailer 1:47 Poster for War Pony R 2023 1h 55m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
93% Tomatometer 55 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
At 23, Bill (Jojo Bapteise Whiting) just wants to make something of himself. Whether it's siphoning gas, delivering goods or breeding Poodles, he is determined to hustle his way to the "American Dream". Meanwhile, 12-year-old Matho (LaDainian Crazy Thunder) can't wait to become a man. Desperate for approval from his young father, a series of impulsive decisions turns Matho's life upside down and he finds himself unequipped to deal with the harsh realities of the adult world.
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War Pony

War Pony

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Critics Consensus

With subtlety and authenticity, War Pony tracks the lives of two young Indigenous men and cements the two women behind the lens, Riley Keough and Gina Gammell, as talents to watch.

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Critics Reviews

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Sergio Burstein Los Angeles Times Oct 5, 2023
A polished staging of an 'indie' character, but with a careful visual composition that reinforces this impression without leaving aside its artistic sense. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Ty Burr Ty Burr's Watch List (Substack) Aug 4, 2023
3.5/4
Filmed on the traditional homelands of the Oceti Sakowin and Tongva Peoples, “War Pony” feels lived in, and lived hard. Go to Full Review
David Fear Rolling Stone Jul 28, 2023
The film’s ability to take those genre beats and occasionally tweak them, twist them, and add something regionally specific to them keeps this from being just another tale of desperate decisions and tough times. Go to Full Review
Cameron Ritter Geek Vibes Nation Jul 19, 2025
7.5/10
A gut-punching glimpse into parts of life on a Native reservation. On the surface, War Pony could be the story of anyone from small-town America, but the layers of appalling history bring a unique weight that is difficult to ignore. Go to Full Review
David Bax Battleship Pretension Oct 24, 2024
Like its subjects, War Pony is one of a kind. Go to Full Review
Ross McIndoe The Skinny Jul 4, 2024
4/5
The result is a film that is both unflinchingly gritty and wistfully dreamlike, mischievously funny and achingly melancholy. A film that feels alive in a full, unfiltered way. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Margaux C @Sweetpotato 2 days ago A guts wrenching movie that presents the tragic fate of a glorious and beautiful culture. The few remains of the Native American culture crushed by the consequences of centuries of discrimination is a sad sight to see. It's also a very sensitive depiction of young people left on their own, with a lack of both upbringing and schooling. The two main characters are subtly portrayed and despite they aren't perfect they inspire compassion. Regarding the photography, the yellow and pale glimmers tangled with an array of darker tone perfectly reflect the melancolic and sometimes daunting atmosphere. Even if some moments tend to drag in place, it's a must see movie, between nostalgy and hope. It highlights a subject that can't be ignored. See more Zoran R @levieuxcacamoulu 3 days ago A gut-punching film, that immerses you directly into the modern Native culture, and what it is like to live on a reservation. The movie telling two stories at the same time (Bill & Matho) flawlessly carries the message that growing up in those conditions strongly influences the kind of person you’ll become. Matho’s character is the most gripping of them all: You really get to ask yourself how a kid as small as him manages to get through that much trouble alone. The movie’s direction is also well balanced: while being scripted, you get dialogues that feel like natural conversations (surprising as the people in the movie, weren’t/aren’t professional actors). Switching between handheld camera shots and experimental ones, that immerse you directly into the head of the protagonist, War Pony gets to you with its gritty and dark yellow-ish look, creating an aesthetic that highlights both the dark tones of the movie, and the remaining innocence of the young protagonists. See more Sacha C @Snunt Sep 23, 2026 Honestly, it wasn’t a masterpiece. While it had its funny moments, it definitely dragged in places. That said, I’ve got to give it credit for how realistic it felt at times, it played more like a genuine documentary than a scripted movie. The natural performances and unpolished style really grounded the story, making the humor land in a way that felt subtle rather than forced. It’s not something I’d rush to rewatch, but the vibe really stayed with me. What ultimately rescues War Pony from being easily forgotten is its thoughtful handling of quieter, character focused scenes throughout the second half. Instead of forcing a fake ending, the story stays natural all the way to the end. This restraint allows the movie to deliver a lingering appreciation for its genuine honesty. While it may feel like a mixed bag as a whole, its commitment to subtle, awkward realism provides a quiet charm that truly stays with you long after watching. See more Khadija S @RT46832414 Sep 23, 2026 We really appreciated this movie. Through it we can see the reality of life on a reservation. It’s not just black and white like a little community practicing their culture but it’s more raw and complex. It’s rare to find movies about Natives Americans without using stereotypes. But we think that they could focus more on the past history of Bill. This movie made us realized how we take our ordinary life for granted.All along the movie the atmosphere is dark, slow, emotional and depressing but in the end we were surprised by the comeback of hope in their lives. See more Lina A @RT55651033 Sep 23, 2026 The film was a 6,5/10,I enjoyed it because of the mystery and the messages it conveyed but wasn’t really my cup of tea.I liked the suspense ,but I felt like the events were pretty predictable and nothing really stood out . I also wasn’t a big fan of the atmosphere.Overall,I’d say it was a decent film but definitely not one of the best. See more Sherifa S @RT61433896 Sep 23, 2026 The movie is gripping because of its lyrical atmosphere. The fact that the directors chose real Native Americans without real acting experience make the story feel more sincere. As it is imperfect it shows the reality of life on the reservations and alert the viewers on their living conditions. Moreover this movie could give hope to Native Americans. Trough the movie we can also see that the protagonists are cut off from their culture but the directors still tried to integrate many details and symbols of Native Americans culture in their lives. The plot and the climax are gut-punching. All of those aspects of the movie make it raw and worth watching even if it’s not your kind of movie, it’s one of a kind. See more Read all reviews
War Pony

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Movie Info

Synopsis At 23, Bill (Jojo Bapteise Whiting) just wants to make something of himself. Whether it's siphoning gas, delivering goods or breeding Poodles, he is determined to hustle his way to the "American Dream". Meanwhile, 12-year-old Matho (LaDainian Crazy Thunder) can't wait to become a man. Desperate for approval from his young father, a series of impulsive decisions turns Matho's life upside down and he finds himself unequipped to deal with the harsh realities of the adult world.
Director
Riley Keough, Gina Gammell
Producer
Ryan Zacarias, Sacha Ben Harroche, Gina Gammell, Riley Keough
Screenwriter
Riley Keough, Gina Gammell, Bill Reddy, Franklin Sioux Bob
Distributor
Momentum Pictures
Production Co
Kaleidoscope Entertainment, Doco Digital, Protagonist Pictures
Rating
R (Some Violence|Pervasive Language|Drug and Alcohol Use)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 28, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 28, 2023
Runtime
1h 55m
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