The Skeptic

Name: The Skeptic
Genre: Thriller, Horror
Released: May 1, 2009
Duration: 89 min
Rating: 31

2009

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 4 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 13 Ratings

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6.3

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6.3	Your Score
6.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 13 Ratings

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The Skeptic

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Movie Details & Credits

IFC Films | Release Date: May 1, 2009

Summary: Following the mysterious death of his aunt, power lawyer Bryan Becket moves into the elderly woman's purportedly haunted Victorian mansion. A die hard skeptic, he dismisses one eerie incident after another, until the haunting turns so personal and vicious, Becket's cool, unemotional veneer begins to unravel. Whispers in the night, things heFollowing the mysterious death of his aunt, power lawyer Bryan Becket moves into the elderly woman's purportedly haunted Victorian mansion. A die hard skeptic, he dismisses one eerie incident after another, until the haunting turns so personal and vicious, Becket's cool, unemotional veneer begins to unravel. Whispers in the night, things he sees in the darkness, clues of a horrible secret, turn our rationalist into a terrified and reluctant seeker. A seeker of a truth so unspeakable it could destroy him. And the mystery, always just out of reach down the darkened hall, is not fully revealed until the film's final moments. And even then, it leaves a tantalizing question. (IFC Films)… Expand

Director: Tennyson Bardwell

Genre(s): Thriller, Horror

Runtime: 89 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Glenn Whipp

Old-fashioned in the worst sense, Bardwell's ghost story is heavy on Freud, light on fear. Read full review

Frank Lovece

It's all an earnest effort, three decades too late. Read full review

Ed Gonzalez

Though a few scary skeletons (and one doll) rattle in and out of the film's closet, Bardwell is a slave to television lexicon, allowing Bryan and his lawyer buddy (Tom Arnold) to brave the banter of shrill detective comedies, and framing his images with all the brio of your average "Scarecrow and Mrs. King" episode. Read full review

Stephen Holden

The Skeptic turns into a cut-and-dried Freudian melodrama that gives repressed memory a supernatural dimension. I'll take a bunch of teenagers terrorized by chain-saw-wielding zombies any day. Read full review

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User Reviews

betsyj

May 2, 2009

I thought this film was great! fun, suspenseful--I really liked it as did the friend with me! very good job by all the actors...I would recommend it.

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JenniferB

May 4, 2009

Excellent A great thriller, without the gore... A good watch.

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DavidJ

May 8, 2009

A terrific and suspenseful (though sometimes understated) ghost story with strong performances by nearly everyone in the cast. However, the major revelation is Tim Daly, arguably giving his finest performance to date. A thinking person's horror film.

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globalnomad

Nov 25, 2021

It's eleven years later and I'm looking at this movie through a nostalgic prism, and I'm enjoying most of it. Some of the dialogue early on is overblown, but I can overlook that to appreciate the whole. The public, frankly, doesn't appreciate an understated ghost movie. Intellectuals don'tIt's eleven years later and I'm looking at this movie through a nostalgic prism, and I'm enjoying most of it. Some of the dialogue early on is overblown, but I can overlook that to appreciate the whole. The public, frankly, doesn't appreciate an understated ghost movie. Intellectuals don't tend to watch the genre at all, and the rest expect The Conjuring *at all times.* This one is what I'd call a cozy, old-fashioned psycho-ghost story that builds. Yes, people, you have to give it time to build. True, it lags a bit for the first 20 minutes, but you get rewarded if you're in the mood for a soothing, old-fashioned thriller to watch at home with something nice to drink and somebody nice to drink and watch with.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JayH.

Oct 4, 2009

Slow moving and very long to get going. It

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tipar

Jul 3, 2018

Horror is to try to see this slow-paced boring movie without at least popcorn.

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BillH

Jun 14, 2009

Awful, reminded me of the 1980's. Who wasted their money to make this sorry movie. Glad I didnt pay to see this!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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