Ponyboi Review: A Sparkling Breakthrough That Occasionally Trips Over Its Own Glitter

Director: Esteban Arango

Cast: River Gallo, Dylan O’Brien, Victoria Pedretti, Murray Bartlett

My Rating: 7.1/10

The Verdict

Ponyboi is a high-octane, glitter-stained fever dream that finally puts an intersex narrative front and center, where River Gallo is a force of nature, but the film occasionally leans too hard into "crime thriller" cliches that distract from the character's heart. In my opinion, it is a solid 7.1/10.

The Full Review

Lets take a hyper-stylized sprint through the New Jersey underworld,  that feels modern yet still incredibly intimate, but where it also struggles to balance its neon-noir ambitions with the character study it is looking to do.

The Plot: A Long Night in Jersey

Ponyboi, played by River Gallo, is an intersex sex worker dreaming of a life beyond the laundromat where they work, and the film sets a ticking clock — it’s Valentine’s Day, a drug deal has gone south, and the mob is closing in, where the neon-noir aesthetic immediately signals the inner state of our protagonist, where everything is pink, blue, and flickering.

I did find the mob chase elements to be the least interesting part of the story, and when Ponyboi meets a mysterious stranger, Dylan O’Brien, I felt the movie finally found its soul, though these moments are often cut short to get back to the generic crime plot.

Performance: River Gallo vs. The Script

River Gallo is so commanding in Ponyboi, with a vulnerability in their eyes which offsets the bravado of the character, and it's a performance that doesn’t ask for pity, and while the dialogue is occasionally on the nose, the film works best when it’s quiet.

But director Esteban Arango seems afraid of silence, constantly filling the space with shaky-cam, loud transitions, and flashes of hyper-stylized visual chaos.

All Style and Little Soul?

Often films with this much aesthetic fall into the same trap of a film I recently reviewed, Stone Cold Fox, where it's all style and little soul, but Ponyboi is better than that, though it occasionally dips its toes in those waters, where the lighting is gorgeous but sometimes it feels like I’m watching a very high-budget music video rather than a narrative film, which is why I settled on a 7.1, because the vibe is immaculate, yet the substance feels thin, especially in the middle of the film.

Soundtrack: Hyperpop and Heartache

We’re definitely seeing a massive crossover between Brat culture and indie cinema in recent times, and Ponyboi uses distorted synth-pop (composed by Cristobal Tapia De Veer) to underscore the most violent and intimate moments, and not in the traditional sense either, which I felt was a brilliant creative choice, sharing the same energy as The Moment, though with a darker edge.

Fans of Charli XCX will probably find a new obsession here with its brat culture, aesthetic and energy, but I also noticed that at times it drowned out the actors’ performances when I most wanted to focus on the characters.

Comparison: Ponyboi vs. All of Us Strangers

For my comparison, I am going to compare the emotional weight of this film to All of Us Strangers, as both films are about queer people trying to reconcile their pasts with a lonely present, though in my view All of Us Strangers is the more mature film, handling metaphysical elements with more grace, while Ponyboi is louder, more aggressive.

Ponyboi Ending Explained: The Meadowlands Stand-off (SPOILERS)

The finale takes place in the bleak, swampy expanse of the New Jersey Meadowlands — a far cry from the neon lights of the laundromat, where the film subverts the "romance" tropes here — while Angel (Dylan O'Brien) tries to protect Ponyboi, it is ultimately Ponyboi who has to seize their own agency.

Ponyboi is left standing in the grey light of dawn as a reclamation of their body, as throughout the film, Ponyboi is treated as an object to be bought or a "freak" to be stared at, and the ending isn't about "escaping to NYC," but about the fact that Ponyboi is finally standing on their own two feet, regardless of who is chasing them.

Ponyboi Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ponyboi based on a true story?

While the plot is a fictional thriller, it is inspired by River Gallo’s own experiences, and the emotional core is the best part of the movie.

Where can I stream Ponyboi?

As of January 2026, it is streaming on Hulu in the US and Disney+ internationally, and it can also be found on Amazon Prime.

Is it safe for work?

No, I should warn readers, it is rated R for strong violence and sexual content.

How long is the movie?

It runs 103 minutes, and I felt the runtime is efficient, though the middle act drags slightly and could have used some trimming.

Let me know your thoughts on Ponyboi, and you can also read my 7.2 review of Queer