Horse Girl

2020 1h 43m EN

😐

5.7

MID

★5.7TMDB · 622

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A socially awkward woman with a fondness for arts and crafts, horses, and supernatural crime shows finds her increasingly lucid dreams trickling into her waking life.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Alison Brie
Sarah
Debby Ryan
Nikki
John Reynolds
Darren
Molly Shannon
Joan
John Ortiz
Ron
Meredith Hagner
Heather
Jake Picking
Brian
David Paymer
Doctor

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jeff Baena
Writers: Jeff Baena, Alison Brie
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 6

ERA

Did you know

Released 6 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Jeff Baena, shot by Sean McElwee. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Josiah Steinbrick. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Ryan Brown shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 6

ERA

Did you know

Alison Brie and Debby Ryan and John Reynolds carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 6

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt11388406 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jeff Baena directs. Sean McElwee behind the camera. Josiah Steinbrick scores. Ryan Brown cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 6 years ago.
2Directed by Jeff Baena, shot by Sean McElwee. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Josiah Steinbrick. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Ryan Brown shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Alison Brie and Debby Ryan and John Reynolds carry the top of the cast.
6IMDB entry: tt11388406 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Classified under 11 themes, including "roommates", "supernatural", "conspiracy theory", "dating".

The technical file

Cinematography: Sean McElwee
Original score: Josiah Steinbrick
Editing: Ryan Brown
Production design: Megan Fenton
Costume design: Beth Morgan
Makeup / hair: Roz Music
VFX supervisor: Tim Carras
Sound: Zach Goheen
Stunt coordinator: Jeffrey G. Barnett
Runtime: 103 min · 1h 43m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Horse Girl (2020)

Also by

Jeff Baena

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Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots2020-03-27
★ 4/10
I left the screening of “Horse Girl” with a deep dissatisfaction, a film that is an odd misstep from director Jeff Baena (“Life After Beth,” “Joshy”). The first half of the film is awkwardly charming, but then it becomes something completely different in the worst possible way. The goodwill earned from the oddball sensibility of the story is derailed when things go in a completely “WTF?!” direction. This is a dark movie that gets weird for no good reason, and it feels like the project becomes a victim of writers (Baena and Alison Brie) who can’t figure out the ending to their story so they take the weird route. It’s lazy, sloppy, and super disappointing. The goofy and sweet Sarah (Brie) has a quiet and fairly simple life. She spends her days working at a crafts store, her afternoons visiting an equestrian center, and her evenings in from of the t.v. watching her favorite supernatural crime show. When her coworker Joan (Molly Shannon) gives her a DNA testing kit for her birthday, it sparks a curiosity about her family history that leads to a pattern of sleepwalking episodes and disturbing dreams. These visions begin to seep into her daily reality, making the fine line Sarah walks between what’s real and what’s fake even more blurred. Is she a clone? Is it the work of extraterrestrials? Or is her family history of paranoid schizophrenia finally starting to affect her? The mystery aspects of the story are interesting, and Baena treats his characters with tenderness and respect. The film is at its best when it presents as a quirky character study and its worst when it becomes too abstract. It isn’t the serious and depressing plot points that ruin the film, but it’s the outlandish finale that honestly makes no sense whatsoever. The ending feels like a slap in the face to those dealing with mental illness as much as it does to the audience.
Alunauwie2025-09-22
★ 9/10
Horse Girl is a psychological drama that explores mental health through the character of Sarah, portrayed powerfully by Alison Brie, who also co-wrote the film based on personal experiences. The film presents a surreal and emotionally intense journey filled with confusion, paranoia, and identity crisis, culminating in a cliffhanger ending open to interpretation. With its haunting visuals, strong performances, and bold storytelling, Horse Girl is a compelling watch for viewers who appreciate deep, thought-provoking cinema. Read the full review here: (Indonesian version : alunauwie.com)