Holy Smoke (1999) | How Woke Is It?

Our VerdictWoke

65%

Holy Smoke1999

In a free society the right to critique art is essential and protected speech. These reviews reflect personal opinions and not statements of fact.

What We Think

"Holy Smoke" delivers a 90s dose of deconstruction, subverting religion and traditional roles with gleeful irreverence. While it's not pure "woke fever dream," it pushes its ideological leanings pretty forcefully, especially for the era.

Score Breakdown

Compromised:Narrative Integrity

Woke

What is this?

"Holy Smoke" leans into its female protagonist's "spiritual awakening" and identity battles, sometimes at the expense of balanced storytelling. The plot occasionally prioritizes ideological confrontation over organic character development, though it still features genuine moments of vulnerability and complexity.

Compromised:Cultural Foundations

Woke

What is this?

The film rather eagerly deconstructs traditional gender roles and religious norms, often portraying them as restrictive or hypocritical. Masculinity is put through the wringer here, and religion is almost caricatured as something to be liberated from. Not the most subtle approach to cultural foundations.

Compromised:Ideological Monoculture

Woke

What is this?

Alternative or traditional perspectives are generally presented with a hint of mockery or as obstacles for the main character to overcome. The narrative clearly favors modern individualism and skepticism of authority, leaving little room for genuine debate or pluralism.

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Disclaimer: In a free society the right to critique art is essential and protected as a form of free speech and freedom of expression. The reviews and commentary on this site represent personal opinions and interpretations. They are not statements of fact and should not be taken as factual claims about any individual, company, or creative work.