The Tall Man
Metascore
52 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 8 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 8
  3. Negative: 4 out of 8
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  1. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Jeannette Catsoulis
    Aug 30, 2012
    90
    Ultimately his story draws more energy from class than from criminality: awash in sludgy browns and rotting greens - the colors of poverty and decomposition - this unpredictable oddity is a little bonkers but a lot original.
  2. Slant Magazine
    Reviewed by: Richard Larson
    Aug 30, 2012
    75
    Illustrates the problem of class mobility with a dark, troubling premise that holds a harsh light up to our own assumptions and expectations.
  3. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Scott Tobias
    Aug 29, 2012
    75
    In easily her best performance - and sadly, one few will see, given the film's modest release strategy - Jessica Biel stars as a single mother in Cold Rock, Washington.
  4. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Mark Olsen
    Sep 1, 2012
    40
    Long on atmosphere and short on sense, The Tall Man becomes less gripping as it grows more ridiculous.
  5. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Kyle Smith
    Aug 30, 2012
    38
    Spits out enough scares and twists to maintain our interest, but the film's psycho-sociological layer is almost as cheesy and unconvincing as its low-rent action scenes.
  6. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Chris Packham
    Aug 28, 2012
    30
    Once you get through the flaming, Bowser's Castle–like gauntlet of the rest of the story's implausibilities, you end up in a different movie than the one on the creepy poster.
  7. The Playlist
    Reviewed by: Drew Taylor
    Aug 28, 2012
    25
    The road to hell is paved with good intentions, and in a few months it will also be paved with unwatched DVD copies of The Tall Man.
  8. Boxoffice Magazine
    Reviewed by: Nick Schager
    Aug 30, 2012
    20
    The more pressing affliction in Pascal Laugier's film is the absence of chills, logic and coherence.

User Reviews

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User Score
6.7 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 28 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 9
  3. Negative: 1 out of 9
  1. Mad_Hatter91
    8
    The Tall Man is a 2012 thriller film directed by Pascal Laugier. Cold Rock A children are disappearing and people are blaming a mysterious entity called The Tall Man The film has an excellent director and a photograph really well done. The cast was very well chosen and the plot took a turn unexpected mid-film, which surprised me. A pretty good movie that manages to make you spend 1 hour and 40 minutes without boredom.… Full Review »
  2. Tss5078
    5
    The Tall Man tries very hard to be something it's not, a Stephen King story. Parts of this film reek with King's influence, but I don't think he'd be all that thrilled about it. When the film first started I thought it was a pretty good movie, but by the end I was just confused. The story follows a local resident in the town of Cold Rock, who has taken over her husband's medical practice after he passed away. That resident is played by Jessica Biel, whose performance and looks are really the only reason to watch this movie. In the town of Cold Rock, the children have been disappearing without a trace and the only thing people have seen is a tall man, dressed in black, leaving the scene. Some people say he's an urban legend, while others claim to have witnessed his abductions, and the whole town is terrified. I found it kind of funny that in a town crippled by fear, not knowing whose child could be next, the kids parents, let them ride their bikes to the store and let them play alone in the fields, it's just one of many parts of this film that just off. As I said, the beginning of this film is terrific, but then it gets weirder and weirder and builds to a conclusion that doesn't make any damn sense! I know this must of have been someone's passion and that they spent years developing it, but before you released it to the public, did you bother to watch it? Jessica Biel is sexy and a terrific actress who is way too good to be doing b-movies like this. If you're a die-hard fan, check it out, she's great, but if you're not, I'd definitely stay away from this one.… Full Review »
  3. ILHM
    7
    Over the past decade, children have been disappearing in the downtrodden town of Cold Rock, but now, one mother is fighting back when her son becomes the next victim of the Tall Man. Pascal Laugier, writer and director of the controversial shocker MARTYRS, returns with THE TALL MAN, a suspense thriller that marks a dramatic shift in style and tone from the director's previous film. THE TALL MAN echoes the writings of Stephen King in many ways, but mainly in its small town setting, the monster of legend that plagues the town, and in the narration that is provided by one of the town's young children. Jessica Biel stars as Julia Denning, a nurse whose selfless attempts cannot save the dying community from itself. Biel's performance carries the film, but despite her best efforts, her character simply isn't compelling enough to garner our sympathy or support. While the final reveal may seem like a cheat to the many viewers who set their sights on the supernatural, Laugier still surprises with an altruistic message of hope that few could have anticipated. THE TALL MAN will hold a certain appeal with fans of both Stephen King and M. Night Shyamalan.… Full Review »
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