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By Hook or by Crook

Play trailer Poster for By Hook or by Crook 2002 1h 38m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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76% Tomatometer 21 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
"By Hook or Crook" is a buddy film that chronicles three weeks in the life of a handsome, gender-bending, small-town butch with a nagging messiah-complex. Emotionally defeated since the death of her father, Shy heads to the big city to sink herself into a life of crime. She is quickly distracted by Valentine, a deliriously expressive, wiseacre adoptee on a misguided search for her birth mother. The two freaky grifters join forces and learn the true meaning of poise under pressure.

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By Hook or by Crook

Critics Reviews

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Stef Rubino Autostraddle Jul 9, 2024
It’s a snapshot of what survival often looks like for people who are trying to make due with the scraps that are thrown at them from the oppressive systems that govern our world. Go to Full Review
Ren Jender Village Voice Jan 17, 2019
[By Hook or by Crook] has a topical resonance rare even in recent releases. Go to Full Review
Robert Koehler Variety Aug 8, 2008
For all of its outward appearances as a raw work of lesbian outlaw expression, Harry Dodge and Silas Warner’s “By Hook or by Crook” is really a corny old romance at heart, with almost all the attendant cliches intact. Go to Full Review
Chance Solem-Pfeifer Willamette Week Sep 10, 2026
By Hook is so steeped in charming masculinity, urban survival and crime conventions that it could just as well be pure 1955 Americana, only starring two gender-nonconforming actors and awash in the hyper-immediate digital grain of its mini DV camera. Go to Full Review
Patrick McDonald HollywoodChicago.com Jun 22, 2026
4/5
Filled beginning-of-millennia San Francisco fringes, the film has an authenticity about the moment, but still manages a truth that is right at home today. Two renegades create their own world, and end up saving themselves. W/interview. Go to Full Review
Harper Rochel Goldman MovieJawn Jun 19, 2026
What’s most striking about By Hook or by Crook is how radically real it feels, even in today’s trans film landscape. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Sep 29, 2018 One of the best trans movies with heartbreaking performances by all, like Killer of Sheep, its brilliance is in part knowing that it is someone's first film. This means that in order to captivate the audience it has to entirely rely on explaining a context of the characters' reality all from within, which is a real feat of dialogue and a low-budget independent capacity. But I also was captivated by a sense of danger that seems to blend reality and fiction. Also, it should be said that not all movies have the added burden of being aware that as a film and the characters portrayed it may possibly be the only representation that a broader audience may see, and never un-see. This film makes you imagine what it might be like to care for someone who constantly breaks the law just for being who they are. See more
Feb 9, 2009 I thought this was an average film. It's interesting how all the descriptions of this movie say this is about lesbians when it's really about transgendered individuals. See more
Jan 30, 2008 Not particularly good -- meaning navigable, remotely entertaining, pleasing to the eye -- it does, rather nobly, want to hip its audience to gender fluidity. See more
Jan 19, 2008 Low budget but good. I might even say groundbreaking. There's some pretty good quotes too. See more
Nov 22, 2007 this is a quirky, low production value, community-centered, no nonsense, BUTCH film of everyday genderfucking brilliance. Touching, very hilarious, GREAT! See more
Sep 8, 2007 i love love love this movie..valentine is my hero! See more
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By Hook or by Crook

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Cast & Crew

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Harry Dodge

Director

Silas Howard

Director

Silas Howard

Shy

Harry Dodge

Valentine

Stanya Kahn

Billie

Carina Gia

Isabelle

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By Hook or by Crook

Scene from the film BY HOOK OR BY CROOK. Scene from the film BY HOOK OR BY CROOK. By Hook or by Crook (2001) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis "By Hook or Crook" is a buddy film that chronicles three weeks in the life of a handsome, gender-bending, small-town butch with a nagging messiah-complex. Emotionally defeated since the death of her father, Shy heads to the big city to sink herself into a life of crime. She is quickly distracted by Valentine, a deliriously expressive, wiseacre adoptee on a misguided search for her birth mother. The two freaky grifters join forces and learn the true meaning of poise under pressure.
Director
Harry Dodge, Silas Howard
Producer
Silas Howard, Harry Dodge, Steak House
Screenwriter
Harry Dodge, Silas Howard
Distributor
Artistic License
Production Co
Steakhaus Productions
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 25, 2002, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Jun 12, 2026
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 4, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.8K
Runtime
1h 38m
Sound Mix
Stereo
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