Critic Reviews

• Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

  In the evolutionary spectrum of cinema, "Natural Selection" is like the duck-billed platypus, pretending to be warm-blooded but more than a little fowl.

• Mark Feeney, Boston Globe

  [Harris is] the one good thing in "Natural Selection."

• Ben Sachs, Chicago Reader

  However gritty this indie comedy may look (cinematographer Steve Calitri seems to be aping William Eggleston's photographs of the American south), it isn't all that different from an Adam Sandler vehicle.

• Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

  [Harris is] the big reason that "Natural Selection" is so engaging.

• Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times

  In Harris' hands, Linda is guileless but believable, her smile so worn and wary that it almost hurts to see it.

• Amy Biancolli, San Francisco Chronicle

  A coming-of-age portrait of a sweet, innocent, middle-aged Christian woman who bursts through the confines of a sexless marriage.

• Brian Orndorf, Blu-ray.com

  Previously cornered in mousy or sarcastic roles, Harris is challenged by Natural Selection, bringing out the best in the actress, who I hope is offered more juicy dramatic opportunities like this.

• Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

  Lame indie comedy.

• Brent Simon, Shockya.com

  A cracked road trip, marked by a pair of arresting leads turns, shot through with good intention but lacking in either deft enough execution or a tonal commitment one way or another that would tip it toward honest recommendation.

• Brett Michel, Boston Phoenix

  Harris gives it her all, despite Pickering's inability to steer a vehicle worthy of her talents.

• Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall

  A skilful mixture of comedy and drama makes this the kind of film that keeps us off balance from start to finish.

• Kelly Vance, East Bay Express

  This movie demonstrates that it's a pretty rough place out there in Flyover Land. Harris and O'Leary are up to the challenge, and Natural Selection is a pleasant surprise.

• Dan Lybarger, MovieMaker Magazine

  Pickering has made a movie that mercilessly pokes fun at religious pretensions but still looks on his characters with warmth.

• Ron Wilkinson, Monsters and Critics

  A commendable ultra-low budget indie road trip flick, "Natural Selection" fails to fire on all cylinders.

• Catherine Shoard, Guardian [UK]

  Natural Selection ticks all the boxes with a firm grip. Its opening alone is a lovely cinematic coup.

• Chris French, Paste Magazine

  A violent, witty, heart-wrenching and, most of all, awkward tale of one woman's travels to places beyond her own -- places that are painful and depressed, yet intoxicating with excitement.

Read all 16 critic reviews