Spoor (2021): Cast, Ratings & Plot
Spoor is a 2021 drama thriller directed by Agnieszka Holland and Kasia Adamik, starring Patricia Volny as Dobra Nowina, Borys Szyc and Jakub Gierszal. It runs 2 hours 8 minutes. Critics gave it 74% on Rotten Tomatoes and 67 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 8m (128 min)
- Directors
- Agnieszka Holland and Kasia Adamik
- Original language
-
Polish
- Studio
- Samuel Goldwyn Films
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Spoor About?
The premise of Spoor without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Retired engineer Duszejko’s peaceful life in a remote Polish-Czech border village is disrupted when her dogs disappear. A series of unsettling events follow as local hunters are found dead, each connected by mysterious deer tracks. Determined to uncover the truth, Duszejko investigates, finding herself entangled in a web of secrets and deceit. She must determine whether these killings are the work of a human or something far more primal.
Spoor Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- schoolteacher
- animal cruelty
- hunter
- mysterious death
- one word title
- english teacher
- european literature on screen
- polish literature on screen
- teacher as protagonist
- passive aggressive woman
- eccentric woman
- oral sex in a car
+38 more Show fewer
- f rated
- metaphoric title
- cottage
- triple f rated
- mayor
- flashlight
- headmistress
- dead deer
- revolt
- narrated by protagonist
- polish countryside
- community
- dog licking someone's face
- dog barks
- telephone call
- farmhouse
- fox
- shooting
- gunshot
- william blake quotation
- school principal
- learning english
- christian
- religion
- reference to god
- biblical reference
- stolen calendar
- talking to a deer
- reference to cinderella
- slow motion scene
- blood
- bloody face
- old woman
- flashback
- crying
- singing along
- father son relationship
- prosecutor
Spoor Cast & Characters
Patricia Volny leads the cast as Dobra Nowina, with Borys Szyc as Jaroslaw Wnetrzak and Jakub Gierszal as Dyzio. Directed by Agnieszka Holland and Kasia Adamik; 10 actors are credited in all.
-
Co-director Agnieszka Holland - Co-director Kasia Adamik
- Patricia Volny as Dobra Nowina
-
Borys Szyc as Jaroslaw Wnetrzak -
Jakub Gierszal as Dyzio -
Tomasz Kot as Prokurator Swierszczynski
Also Starring in Spoor
· 6 more- Miroslav Krobot Boros Schneider
- Andrzej Grabowski Prezes Wolski
- Wiktor Zborowski Swietopelk Swierszczynski 'Matoga'
- Katarzyna Herman Zona Prezesa
- Marcin Bosak Ksiadz Szelest
- Agnieszka Mandat-Grabka
More from Agnieszka Holland and Kasia Adamik
More films directed by Agnieszka Holland and Kasia Adamik, best-rated first: Green Border, Burning Bush, Charlatan and Shot in the Heart.
Spoor Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Spoor 74% on Rotten Tomatoes and 67 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 80/100, strongest in art & craft (90) and weakest in story & flow (60).
Spoor Echo Score Breakdown
Spoor demonstrates notable visual craftsmanship and environmental theming, though its narrative cohesion is uneven. The film’s arresting imagery and sustained atmospheric tension earn consistent praise for the direction and cinematography, while the intertwined ecological commentary resonates through black humor and eco-feminist undertones. However, several observers found the genre blending to detract from suspense, resulting in occasional narrative drifting. On balance, Spoor leaves a memorable sensory imprint despite occasional story opaqueness.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 90
In terms of art and craft, Spoor excels in its visual composition and directorial vision. Critics highlight majestic close-ups of wildlife and stark, contrasted frames of snowy woodlands that evoke a formidable sense of place. The measured editing underscores the film’s thematic undercurrents without disrupting flow. Overall, the craft delivers a consistently compelling visual experience.
- Character & Emotion 80
When it comes to character and emotion, the lead performance anchors Spoor with palpable anguish and reflective acceptance. Observers commend the portrayal of grief stages and the protagonist’s empathetic bond with animals. Some felt the central figure’s peculiar traits created distance, but the overall depth maintains emotional resonance throughout. This balance yields a nuanced character study.
- Story & Flow 60
In terms of story and flow, Spoor weaves ecological themes with crime-thriller conventions. Viewers appreciate its environmental stakes and unexpected formal turns. Nonetheless, several critics found the genre fusion to undermine consistent suspense, leading to moments of narrative ambiguity. While the pacing carries thematic weight, occasional muddling tempers the film’s overall plot coherence.
- Sensory Experience 85
When considering sensory experience, Spoor delivers a richly atmospheric soundscape and striking visual style. Reviewers note haunting imagery charged with natural aliveness and an ominous ambiance that permeates each frame. The film’s sound design and atmospheric score further reinforce its environmental tension. Collectively, these elements create a deeply immersive cinematic atmosphere.
- Rewatch Factor 70
Regarding rewatch factor, Spoor offers layered thematic material that invites further exploration on subsequent viewings. Its intricate environmental motifs and black humor reveal new nuances with each revisit. Some viewers, however, may find its peculiar tone and genre shifts limit repeat appeal. Overall, the film sustains a moderate replay value through its conceptual richness.
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IMDb 6.3 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 74% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 50%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 67 Metascore
User score 4.2
See on Metacritic -
Letterboxd 3.1 /5
1.6K ratings
See on Letterboxd
Spoor Plot Summary
What happens in Spoor from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 16 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The film takes place in the secluded mountains of the Klodzko Valley in south-western Poland, where an eccentric elderly woman, Janina Duszejko, cohabits with her beloved two dogs. One fateful day, while driving a local woman known as Dobra Nowina to the store, her dogs mysteriously vanish. This prompts Duszejko to confront her neighbor, a notorious poacher she refers to as “Big Foot,” who lays gruesome traps where animals perish painfully. The situation escalates when she is awakened one night by Matoga, another nearby resident, who brings the shocking news of Big Foot’s demise.
Full summary
The whole story of Spoor, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Spoor?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the eccentric matriarch in the film?
Spoor Also Known As
9 alternative titles, including “Influencer” and “Отрыв”.
- Also known as
-
- Influencer
- Отрыв
- 구독 좋아요 알림설정
- Spree: Viaje Desenfrenado
- 车速过快
- Spree: Viagens sem Limite
- Çılgınlık Spree
- スプリー
- Nézettségért mindent
Seen Spoor?
Movies Like Spoor
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Spoor, Czech Mate and Only the Animals.
Spoor FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Spoor, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Spoor?
Spoor runs 2 hours 8 minutes (128 minutes).
When was Spoor released?
Spoor was released on January 22, 2021.
Who directed Spoor?
Spoor was directed by Agnieszka Holland and Kasia Adamik.
More films by Agnieszka Holland Who is in the cast of Spoor?
Spoor stars Patricia Volny as Dobra Nowina, Borys Szyc as Jaroslaw Wnetrzak and Jakub Gierszal as Dyzio, among 10 credited actors.
How is Spoor rated?
Spoor has 6.3/10 on IMDb, 74% on Rotten Tomatoes, 67 on Metacritic and 3.1/5 on Letterboxd.
Does Spoor have a post-credit scene?
No. Spoor has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Spoor in?
The original language of Spoor is Polish.
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