Holy Smoke
While on a journey of discovery in exotic India, beautiful young Ruth Barron falls under the influence of a charismatic religious guru. Her desperate parents then hire PJ Waters, a macho cult de-programmer who confronts Ruth in a remote desert hideaway. But PJ quickly learns that he's met his match in the sexy, intelligent and iron-willed Ruth.
Critics Sentiment
Ruth comes naked into PJ's arms to test his professionalism
Harvey Keitel appears in lipstick and a red dress
The film drops dramatically from Ruth's powerful naked confrontation scene to the widely criticized drag sequence with Harvey Keitel.
Holy Smoke starts promisingly as a psychological thriller about cult deprogramming but loses its way in the second half. Critics praised the early setup and Kate Winslet's fearless performance, particularly her naked confrontation scene, but found the film increasingly bizarre and unfocused as it progresses. The infamous drag sequence with Harvey Keitel divided audiences and marked the film's descent into what many reviewers considered pretentious absurdity.
Full cast
Kate Winslet
Ruth Barron
Harvey Keitel
PJ Waters
Julie Hamilton
Mum
Sophie Lee
Yvonne
Dan Wyllie
Robbie
Paul Goddard
Tim
Tim Robertson
Dad
George Mangos
Yanni
Kerry Walker
Puss
Leslie Dayman
Bill-Bill
Samantha Murray
Prue
Sandy Gutman
Stan
Simon Anderson
Fabio
Pam Grier
Carol
Robert Lee
Cult Video Reporter
Geneviève Lemon
Rahi
Marshall Applewhite
Dhritiman Chatterjee
Chidaatma Baba
Tamsin Carroll
Jodie
Eric Schussler
Cult Video Reporter
Crew
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