We Were Dangerous

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We Were Dangerous

2025

1h 23m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

36 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Set in 1954 New Zealand, We Were Dangerous follows Nellie and Daisy, two delinquent girls attempting to escape their institution. After being caught, they are transferred to a remote island facility. There, they form a trio with Lou, a well-to-do newcomer, and together they challenge the authority of the strict Matron. As they rebel against a system, they find strength in their friendship, questioning faith and authority in a world that seeks to control them.

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Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

Jul 10, 2025

Lovely performances by the actresses make We Were Dangerous an engaging proposition despite its thunderous musical cues and shifting perspective.

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Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (LAist)

Apr 9, 2025

These extraordinary young actresses, every single one of them... It's a beautiful film.

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David Ehrlich

IndieWire

Mar 9, 2024

B-

It’s a hopeful — sometimes borderline exuberant — rallying cry for girls to stick together across the various divides that people use to disempower them.

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Olivia Popp

Purple Hour

Nov 18, 2025

We Were Dangerous is still a joyous ride, even if one ends up a bit unsure of its approach by the end.

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Paul Emmanuel Enicola

The Movie Buff

Jul 18, 2025

B-

A dreamlike portrait of confinement and girlhood, framed by an aching desire for escape.

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Emma Vine

Loud and Clear Reviews

Jul 10, 2025

3.5/5

Amidst inhumane conditions at an isolated reform school in 1950s New Zealand, We Were Dangerous demonstrates women’s empowerment and the beauty of friendship.

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spoko s

@spoko Jan 7, 2026

There’s a fluidity to the friendships that really works. The bond between the girls never feels rushed or overly dramatized—it’s allowed to build, shift, settle, and evolve. So when their loyalty is finally tested, the tension actually lands. The coldness and casual cruelty of the institution, on the other hand, is immediate and fairly relentless. From the beginning, it’s obvious that the story is headed toward a single oppositional act, which creates an anticipatory thrum as it goes on. Obviously, New Zealand's historical and cultural context—as well as the typical view of girls during that time—add real weight, grounding the story in something much bigger than just personal survival or coming-of-age angst.

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Josephine Stewart-Tewhiu

Director

Erana James

Nellie

Nathalie Morris

Lou

Rima Te Wiata

The Matron

Manaia Hall

Daisy

Maddie Dai

Screenwriter

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Synopsis

Set in 1954 New Zealand, We Were Dangerous follows Nellie and Daisy, two delinquent girls attempting to escape their institution. After being caught, they are transferred to a remote island facility. There, they form a trio with Lou, a well-to-do newcomer, and together they challenge the authority of the strict Matron. As they rebel against a system, they find strength in their friendship, questioning faith and authority in a world that seeks to control them.

Director: Josephine Stewart-Tewhiu
Producer: Morgan Waru, Polly Fryer
Screenwriter: Maddie Dai
Distributor: The Forge
Production Co: Piki Films, Fit Via Vi Film Productions
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 4, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 1h 23m

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