Orlando Bloom’s Threesome Scene in ‘Bucking Fastard’ With Rooney and Kate Mara Criticized

Avatar photoHrvoje Milakovic
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Werner Herzog has always been a challenging director to encapsulate in a single sentence, and his latest film, ‘Bucking Fastard’, is no exception. Premiering at the Venice Film Festival on September 3 before heading to the San Sebastián Film Festival, the film features a unique casting twist: real-life sisters Rooney Mara and Kate Mara portray codependent twins who share nearly everything, including a romantic interest.

The story revolves around twin sisters Jean and Joan Holbrooke, inspired by the real-life British identical twins Freda and Greta Chaplin. These characters speak in eerie unison and both fall for the same married man, played by Orlando Bloom as Gareth Mulroney.

Herzog’s signature observational style captures the sisters as they navigate courtrooms and social services, exploring their complex relationships with each other and with Bloom’s character, which has left critics struggling to define the film’s essence.

The film’s most controversial moment arises from a threesome scene involving all three leads, sparking significant public reaction. According to Page Six, viewers have labeled the scene as “appalling” and “disgusting,” transforming what was intended to be an intimate character moment into a divisive topic.

Bloom has openly discussed the scene since its premiere, emphasizing its emotional depth. He remarked, “There’s such simplicity to the characters and their carnal desires, but also an innocence to the sisters,” adding that his character “is sensitive too” and quickly finds himself overwhelmed as events unfold. “It was a very sincere sort of moment that was created,” he explained.

Screenshot 2026 09 21 at 20 22 07 Bucking Fastard Rotten Tomatoes

Herzog supported this approach, recalling his hands-off directing style during the scene. He stated, “There are moments when a director has to step back,” and recounted telling Bloom, “You are in bed, and you have two women in your arms. How you deal with it, I cannot give instructions.” He has since praised the final product for its “charm and depth.”

Critics at the Venice Film Festival were less favorable towards the film overall, despite acknowledging the strong performances by the Mara sisters. One review from The Playlist rated the film a D+, describing it as “the cinematic equivalent of doing donuts in a parking lot,” while another from World of Reel called it “very much a failure that you wouldn’t wish your worst enemy to see.”

The backlash seems to stem from the disparity between the film’s ambitions and its reception. A movie centered on shock value and taboo exploration was bound to elicit strong reactions, but the intensity directed at the threesome scene indicates that audiences were unprepared for the lengths Herzog was willing to go.

Whether this controversy will ultimately benefit or harm ‘Bucking Fastard’ at the box office remains uncertain, though the buzz from the festival has kept the film in discussions long after its premiere weekend. For Bloom, the experience appears to be worth defending, regardless of the mixed reception.

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