Herzog's 'Bucking Fastard' Draws Mixed Reviews at Venice

Key points

• The film received a 6.5-minute standing ovation at its September 3, 2026, premiere in Venice, with the largest applause directed at director Werner Herzog.
• Rooney and Kate Mara play Jean and Joan Holbrooke, twins who speak in unison, dress identically, and share a romantic interest in Orlando Bloom’s character.
• The plot involves the sisters digging a tunnel through a mountain range to reach an imaginary utopia, a concept inspired by the real-life case of British twins Freda and Greta Chaplin.
• Herzog declined a non-competition slot at Cannes, leading Venice to select the film for its Golden Lion competition lineup.
• The film marks the first time Rooney and Kate Mara have appeared together on screen, with Herzog noting they required minimal rehearsal to achieve their synchronized delivery.

Background

This release follows Herzog’s receipt of the Venice Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement in 2025, presented by Francis Ford Coppola. The festival has a history with Herzog, who previously screened titles like 'Bad Lieutenant' and 'My Son, My Son' on the Lido. The current premiere is part of the 83rd Venice Film Festival, which also featured George Clooney’s lifetime achievement award.

How outlets are covering it

Variety and Deadline emphasized the film’s festival success and the novelty of the Mara sisters’ collaboration, noting the strong audience reaction. In contrast, The Guardian’s review was highly critical, calling the film a 'dud' that wastes the talents of its leads and describing the narrative as aimless and inconsequential. While Variety highlighted the emotional moment of Herzog wiping his eyes during the ovation, The Guardian argued the characters were essentially 'silly' and that the film failed to capitalize on the intriguing premise of synchronized twins.

Why it matters

The film’s reception highlights the unpredictable nature of auteur-driven cinema at major festivals, where strong audience applause does not necessarily correlate with critical acclaim. It also underscores the significance of the Mara sisters’ first on-screen collaboration, a project Herzog had long wished to realize, and demonstrates how festival selection processes can shift between Cannes and Venice based on competition slots.

What to watch

The film will continue its festival run, potentially at Toronto, as indicated by related news mentions. Industry attention will focus on whether the Golden Lion competition status translates to broader distribution deals or awards recognition, despite the polarized critical reviews.