Honey Don't! (2025) – Steamy Neo-Noir with Bite and Boldness
Hello, movie lovers! Swapping the body-melding chills of Together for something sleazier and sharper, I'm reviewing Honey Don't! (2025), Ethan Coen's latest solo directorial outing—a neo-noir dark comedy co-written with Tricia Cooke. Starring Margaret Qualley as a tough-as-nails lesbian PI and Chris Evans as a sleazy cult reverend, this B-movie romp pulses with sexuality, mystery, and Coen-esque quirk. It's divisive as hell, but I dug its unapologetic style and story, giving it a 7/10. Fair warning upfront: if graphic sex (including plenty of lesbian scenes) and nudity offend you, run—it's explicit and front-loaded. Let's crack the case.
Honey Don't! (2025) - Pulp Fiction with a Sapphic Edge
Honey Don't! oozes a unique, pulpy vibe—think sun-baked Bakersfield backlots, snappy dialogue laced with double entendres, and a visual flair that's equal parts '90s indie grit and lurid drive-in sleaze. It's the second in Coen and Cooke's "lesbian B-movie trilogy" (after Drive-Away Dolls), and it leans hard into that ethos: unfiltered queer sensuality, cultish weirdness, and a whodunit that twists like a bad hangover. The sex scenes aren't just titillation—they're raw, frequent, and integral, from orgiastic temple rituals to intimate copulation that feels lived-in and electric. But beneath the steam, there's a solid detective yarn with sub-themes of patriarchal abuse and relational violence that add unexpected bite. It's not flawless—pacing can sputter amid the excess—but Qualley's star turn makes it magnetic. LGBT+ viewers will revel in the bold representation; others might squirm. One watch hooked me; a rewatch for her performance? Absolutely.
The Plot: From Car Crash to Cult Conspiracy
In dusty Bakersfield, California, private eye Honey O'Donahue (Margaret Qualley)—a chain-smoking, no-nonsense lesbian with a knack for trouble—gets pulled into a fatal car wreck by her sometime-lover and colleague, homicide detective Marty Metakawich (Aubrey Plaza). The victim? Mia Novotny, a potential client Honey was set to meet, whose death reeks of foul play tied to Reverend Drew Devlin's (Chris Evans) enigmatic Temple of Eternal Light—a pseudo-spiritual cult peddling enlightenment via "communal release" (read: ritualistic hookups). As Honey digs, the trail snakes through an international drug ring smuggling psychedelics disguised as holy sacraments, ensnaring lowlifes, corrupt cops, and temple acolytes in a web of blackmail and betrayal. Flashbacks reveal Honey and Marty's shared scars: both endured brutal fathers (one ex-Army brute, the other a crooked cop) who beat submission into them, fueling their tough exteriors and bond. Subplots simmer too—a niece's abusive boyfriend arc echoes generational trauma—culminating in a bloody showdown where faith, flesh, and felony collide. It's a lean, twisty mystery that keeps you guessing, even if the reveals feel more stylistic than seismic.
Performances That Sizzle and Snap
Margaret Qualley absolutely shines as Honey—a steely, seductive sleuth whose toughness masks vulnerability, nailing the PI archetype with queer swagger and wry humor. Her chemistry with Plaza's Marty crackles, especially in their steamy, post-coital interrogations that blend lust and loyalty. Chris Evans, shedding Captain America for cult-leader slime, is a revelation: charismatic yet creepy as the reverend, presiding over orgies with messianic fervor (his jockstrap-clad rituals are equal parts hilarious and horrifying). Plaza brings deadpan edge to Marty, while Lera Abova adds enigmatic allure as a temple insider. The ensemble vamps it up in Coen's signature mode—over-the-top yet oddly authentic—elevating the film's pulpy heart.
A B-Movie Sequel in the Coen Canon
Following Drive-Away Dolls' road-trip romp, Honey Don't! doubles down on the trilogy's sapphic pulp, channeling Coen classics like Fargo's quirky crime and Blood Simple's sweaty noir, but with overt queer lens and modern edge. It's less mythic than The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (Coen's last solo) and more indulgent, trading brotherly polish for raw, wife-co-written irreverence. The temple's cult antics evoke '70s exploitation flicks, while the drug ring nods to Traffic—though it's all wrapped in a desert-noir aesthetic that's as sun-scorched as it is seductive. Cannes midnight premiere buzz (a standing ovation) hinted at cult potential, but wide release exposed its polarizing core.
Ratings and Critical Reception
Honey Don't! scores a middling 5.3/10 on IMDb (from 15,000 votes), reflecting viewer gripes over its "chaotic plot" and "empty core." Rotten Tomatoes is rougher: 47% critics (from 161 reviews) and a dismal 43% audience, with the consensus dubbing it a "romp that tries to cast a wide net but will ultimately leave audiences saying, Honey Don't." Detractors (IndieWire, The Wrap) slam the "mishmash of disparate parts" and "uninspired retread," calling it forgettable amid the explicitness. Most folks didn't vibe—too messy, too much skin for casual crowds—but I bucked the trend, loving the mystery and Qualley's fire (hence my outlier 7/10). It earned an R for "strong sexual content, graphic nudity, some strong violence," and opened to a modest $6.8M domestic—indie fare, not blockbuster bait.
A Minor Critique
The sex scenes, while bold, occasionally overshadow the sleuthing—some felt gratuitous amid the runtime's bloat. Plot threads (like the niece's abuse) dangle unresolved, and the humor's hit-or-miss for non-fans.
A Stylish Stunner for the Bold
Honey Don't! (2025) is a steamy, subversive neo-noir that revels in queer pulp and Coen quirk, with Qualley and Evans delivering knockout turns amid the cult chaos and carnal twists. It's got brains in its brawn—a sharp mystery laced with trauma tales—but the explicit edge (lesbian heat, ritual romps) will repel as much as it repels. At 7/10, I savored its style and story; it's rewatchable for the performances alone. Dive in if you're game for daring dark comedy; otherwise, heed the warning and steer clear.
What did you think of Honey Don't!? Did the sapphic sleuthing seduce you, or was it too much? Drop your thoughts in the comments, and suggest a film for my next review—maybe more indies or mysteries? If you enjoyed this, like, follow, and share to keep the reels rolling. Thanks for reading—see you at the movies!
