This movie is definitely an interesting movie. The beginning moves along rather well. Keeping my interest as it moves along. The characters are all cast well. It is set at a nice pace as the story develops. I don't really know what to say. This movie was developing so great. Then all of a sudden there's this scene with the shrink and then couple minutes later the movie is finished. The very end is like the sopranos, but worse. I had an easy time making my own ending for that show, but this movie leaves too many questions. This movie could have easily been a 2 hour movie that was great. Instead I feel the end was rushed. Plus the end left you wondering what the hell happened. I mean come on! They had a great movie going and they blew it!!! Had this as a 7 ranking.... changing it to a 6 now that I think about it...
42 Reviews
Clever and scary
theeintolerablekidd16 May 2009
I really liked this film. Like my title says it was clever and scary, maybe even a little too much in places. At one point, I must admit, I had my hands in front of my eyes.
A 30 something lawyer moves into his aunts large house after her death. He soon experiences signs that the house may be haunted, but is it haunted or is it all in his head? Either way it makes for a scary movie, and that is what's clever about this film. It leaves you with questions. Good questions, not holes in the script, but intelligent thought provoking stuff. OK maybe that's going a bit far, it's not Freud or anything but it is good solid cinema. Good acting and an evenly paced well executed script. Nice to see Tom Arnold too.
A 30 something lawyer moves into his aunts large house after her death. He soon experiences signs that the house may be haunted, but is it haunted or is it all in his head? Either way it makes for a scary movie, and that is what's clever about this film. It leaves you with questions. Good questions, not holes in the script, but intelligent thought provoking stuff. OK maybe that's going a bit far, it's not Freud or anything but it is good solid cinema. Good acting and an evenly paced well executed script. Nice to see Tom Arnold too.
rushed/contrived ending
herb-924-14873415 December 2010
Warning: Spoilers
This one was interesting until the company apparently ran out of money and had to rush the ending. You knew something was wrong when the protagonist's para-normal friend couldn't make it on the fatal night. Then his shrink tells him he was locked in a closet on the day of his mother's "accident." This revelation, we are told, emerged because the protagonist was in a 'crisis stage.' Then he says I'm going to a hotel, but first I'm going back to get my things. The shrink says, good idea! Come on -- the writers are getting desperate. Then the para-normal friend's black car is parked outside. But it isn't! That defies credulity and consistency. And so -- the ending. The finale, which has been discussed, is clearly a final wish-fulfillment, the long-held wish from the five year old for the idyllic picnic he was denied so many years before. Other problems -- the doll. Why? Why not the roller-skate (or whatever it was) that propelled Mama down those stairs? And -- what was the protagonist's mental state? Did he finally/gradually go crazy? His development was not well charted. But, basically, the rushed ending defeated a promising film.
It's heart is in the right place
Cujo1083 August 2010
A lawyer's aunt dies and he inherits her house, which she believed to be haunted. He decides to stay there while separated from his wife, and why shouldn't he? After all, he's a die-hard skeptic.
This is a very low-key haunted house tale. I'd say it works more as a mystery than outright horror, though it's all fairly straightforward. While the old house is an atmospheric setting, the film is devoid of any chilling moments. Well, I take that back. There is one good scare, but it turns out to be a false one, no threat. The atmosphere of the house is there, it's just that the filmmakers fail to utilize it to any sizable extent. I also felt that the ending was too abrupt. I don't mind abrupt endings, but this one really pushed it.
Tim Daly is okay as the "unemotional" lead. Not really a likable sort, I'd say. Tom Arnold is here too, but his part is basically a nothing role. It's Zoe Saldana who steals the show as a high-strung, yet appealing psychic. She could go on to greater things, and no, I absolutely do not consider Avatar a greater thing.
The Skeptic isn't bad, but it's nothing too memorable. I do admire it for attempting a quiet, more intimate ghost story in this day of obnoxious, in your face haunting flicks.
This is a very low-key haunted house tale. I'd say it works more as a mystery than outright horror, though it's all fairly straightforward. While the old house is an atmospheric setting, the film is devoid of any chilling moments. Well, I take that back. There is one good scare, but it turns out to be a false one, no threat. The atmosphere of the house is there, it's just that the filmmakers fail to utilize it to any sizable extent. I also felt that the ending was too abrupt. I don't mind abrupt endings, but this one really pushed it.
Tim Daly is okay as the "unemotional" lead. Not really a likable sort, I'd say. Tom Arnold is here too, but his part is basically a nothing role. It's Zoe Saldana who steals the show as a high-strung, yet appealing psychic. She could go on to greater things, and no, I absolutely do not consider Avatar a greater thing.
The Skeptic isn't bad, but it's nothing too memorable. I do admire it for attempting a quiet, more intimate ghost story in this day of obnoxious, in your face haunting flicks.
Still waiting for them to finish filming this.
whoiskeithferguson5 May 2011
Warning: Spoilers
As this movie was all lead-up and no end, I'll aim to restore the cosmic balance by making this review essentially all end with no real lead-up. NOTE: this review is, in it's entirety, nothing but one big spoiler.
The ending: I have no problem with the ambiguity of never truly knowing whether or not everything was in the main character's mind. Almost any story well-told involving an ambiguous ending is essentially a story that's relating a tale about a situation in which "no one was certain about which was true, thus, it remained somewhat of a mystery." It's interesting to present situations about individuals or perhaps societies involved being conflicted over the nature of truth or of their reality. (I give a pass to "The Sopranos" which was a story about "the nature of these people" thus an event-oriented conclusion being arguably less of the point. And I stress "arguably.")
HOWEVER... being unclear about whether or not the final scene was actually portraying Tim Daly's character as dead versus in an unconscious haze is just plain sloppy film-making. It's not like part of the mystery was that no one in the story's scenario would ever know if the stair fall killed him or not. Either he was still alive and thus interacted with people at some point after the fall, or his body was found and a funeral was held. Just leaving that part unclear merely leaves the audience in the dark over the actual context of what the final scene was even referring to, something that would've been mundanely clear to everyone within the context of the story itself. Again, either they had a funeral for him after his body was found or they simply talked to him the next day at work. In lieu of this clarification, the film is essentially saying, "And after he fell down the stairs, it would forever remain a mystery from that day forward to all those he knew as to whether he died in the fall, or in fact, survived and saw many of them at work the next day." Clearly, this makes no sense within any context of telling a story. Thus, the presentation of this film isn't a case of telling a story with an ambiguous, mysterious finale. This is simply a case of starting to tell a story without bothering to fully go through the process of telling it. Why bother then? Either finish the assignment or spare wasting our time and don't turn it in. An even bigger shame since the premise was engaging and the acting very good.
The ending: I have no problem with the ambiguity of never truly knowing whether or not everything was in the main character's mind. Almost any story well-told involving an ambiguous ending is essentially a story that's relating a tale about a situation in which "no one was certain about which was true, thus, it remained somewhat of a mystery." It's interesting to present situations about individuals or perhaps societies involved being conflicted over the nature of truth or of their reality. (I give a pass to "The Sopranos" which was a story about "the nature of these people" thus an event-oriented conclusion being arguably less of the point. And I stress "arguably.")
HOWEVER... being unclear about whether or not the final scene was actually portraying Tim Daly's character as dead versus in an unconscious haze is just plain sloppy film-making. It's not like part of the mystery was that no one in the story's scenario would ever know if the stair fall killed him or not. Either he was still alive and thus interacted with people at some point after the fall, or his body was found and a funeral was held. Just leaving that part unclear merely leaves the audience in the dark over the actual context of what the final scene was even referring to, something that would've been mundanely clear to everyone within the context of the story itself. Again, either they had a funeral for him after his body was found or they simply talked to him the next day at work. In lieu of this clarification, the film is essentially saying, "And after he fell down the stairs, it would forever remain a mystery from that day forward to all those he knew as to whether he died in the fall, or in fact, survived and saw many of them at work the next day." Clearly, this makes no sense within any context of telling a story. Thus, the presentation of this film isn't a case of telling a story with an ambiguous, mysterious finale. This is simply a case of starting to tell a story without bothering to fully go through the process of telling it. Why bother then? Either finish the assignment or spare wasting our time and don't turn it in. An even bigger shame since the premise was engaging and the acting very good.
Delivers unsettling chills
TuesdayThe17th22 November 2014
I found this film in a pile of movies at a pawn shop near my house. As a fan of the IFC line of films, I decided to pick it up. This movie unfolds at a very good pace. Every scene seemed important and the entertainment did not die down once. This is a ghost story type of movie and honestly it kinda felt like a TV movie, but that just made for a warm feel. Fellas, it's a good movie to watch with your girlfriend, but don't expect blood and guts because its the uneasy type of scary that this films delivers. There should be more low key horror films like this. another title that's similar but a little upscale with the terror is "The Last Will and Testament of Rosalind Leigh". I highly recommend it if you liked "The Skeptic".
Bland and lifeless horror/drama
kannibalcorpsegrinder30 April 2015
When a relative passes, a man inherits her decrepit old mansion and coming to learn she believed it haunted sets out to prove it was simply a matter of unrecognizing everyday events around her unaware of a deadly secret lurking within its walls.
This here turned out to be an incredibly dull and barely worthwhile entry. The main problem here, which just about ruins the film right off the bat, is the fact that the film's about a person's nature of being skeptical, a trait which means that every time something supposedly supernatural could happen it's always shot down as realistic instead of supernatural, a rather distressing fact made more damaging due to being presented as absolute fact with constant berating and mocking directed at those who think otherwise. This behavior, from the lead no less, makes it an almost unbearable act to get into the film from the beginning as being around such an irritating figure is hard to stand. That this is given to other characters, who each spend most of the time engaging in the same exact behavior throughout the entire film of making it attempt to be realistic rather than trying to emphasize the supernatural hauntings really makes the film's attempts at generating scares pretty worthless. The banging off-screen doors, whispering voices and moving objects to different locations that are being used for that purpose then don't mean anything when they occur since it's all pretty much ignored and explained, reducing their effectiveness long before how tame they are ruins the film in that manner, leaving this whole thing incredibly flawed with a damaging gimmick, lame scares and a boring pace which really kills off the few positive points it developed.
Rated PG-13: Violence and Language.
This here turned out to be an incredibly dull and barely worthwhile entry. The main problem here, which just about ruins the film right off the bat, is the fact that the film's about a person's nature of being skeptical, a trait which means that every time something supposedly supernatural could happen it's always shot down as realistic instead of supernatural, a rather distressing fact made more damaging due to being presented as absolute fact with constant berating and mocking directed at those who think otherwise. This behavior, from the lead no less, makes it an almost unbearable act to get into the film from the beginning as being around such an irritating figure is hard to stand. That this is given to other characters, who each spend most of the time engaging in the same exact behavior throughout the entire film of making it attempt to be realistic rather than trying to emphasize the supernatural hauntings really makes the film's attempts at generating scares pretty worthless. The banging off-screen doors, whispering voices and moving objects to different locations that are being used for that purpose then don't mean anything when they occur since it's all pretty much ignored and explained, reducing their effectiveness long before how tame they are ruins the film in that manner, leaving this whole thing incredibly flawed with a damaging gimmick, lame scares and a boring pace which really kills off the few positive points it developed.
Rated PG-13: Violence and Language.
The Unknown is more Frightening than any Reality
claudio_carvalho12 April 2010
When the forty year old skeptical lawyer Bryan Becket (Timothy Daly) receives a phone call late night, he is informed that his distant aunt had just died and he can only think in the inheritance of her manor. Becket decides to leave his wife Robin Becket (Andrea Roth) and his son to live in the house while selling it and give an opportunity to Robin to rethink their relationship. However his partner Sully (Tom Arnold) advises him that his aunt had a will and the house would belong to the institute of technology managed by Dr. Warren Koven (Bruce Altman) that research sleeping disorders. Bryan visits Dr. Koven and meets his psychic patient Cassie (Zoe Saldanha). Sooner Bryan is haunted by whispers and voices and discovers that the unknown is more frightening than any reality.
"The Skeptic" is a scary ghost story of haunted house that startles the viewer with creepy scenes. The beginning and development of the plot are excellent and Tim Daly performs a skeptical lawyer that feels lost when faces a paranormal activity in his aunt's house and is haunted by a mystery of his forgotten past. Unfortunately the conclusion is awful and spoils the story, giving the disappointing sensation that the budget had ended and the producer needed to finish the film anyway without any care to the characters or situation. My vote is six.
Title (Brazil): "Herança Paranormal" ("Paranormal Inheritage")
"The Skeptic" is a scary ghost story of haunted house that startles the viewer with creepy scenes. The beginning and development of the plot are excellent and Tim Daly performs a skeptical lawyer that feels lost when faces a paranormal activity in his aunt's house and is haunted by a mystery of his forgotten past. Unfortunately the conclusion is awful and spoils the story, giving the disappointing sensation that the budget had ended and the producer needed to finish the film anyway without any care to the characters or situation. My vote is six.
Title (Brazil): "Herança Paranormal" ("Paranormal Inheritage")
Sadly lacking
katzcrazy198415 April 2017
From the get go it seemed like B feature. It had a number of known actors and held great promise as it continued. Sadly the build up led to no much and the ending fell short. It was enjoyable until the fall. Its almost like they got scared of where it was going and changed direction in the last 60 seconds.
Ending?
hwthorn-111 August 2010
Warning: Spoilers
I'm not going to add much to whats already been said except that the ending (for me) wasn't that vague. Christopher Armstead (Film Critics United) said this;
"The final scene shows Bryan either dead or unconscious, once again a little boy, going to a sunny picnic with his mother. Either the mother's ghost is trying to atone for past sins or Bryan's subconscious is creating the mother he always wanted with choice two being the logical conclusion for me".
I tend to lean toward the first choice. Thru death his mother has taken him back to the time he should have been the happiest and released him from all the turmoil and inhibitions the horrible experiences of his childhood placed on his life; albeit, he had to (die?) to get there. It is a ghost story after all.
"The final scene shows Bryan either dead or unconscious, once again a little boy, going to a sunny picnic with his mother. Either the mother's ghost is trying to atone for past sins or Bryan's subconscious is creating the mother he always wanted with choice two being the logical conclusion for me".
I tend to lean toward the first choice. Thru death his mother has taken him back to the time he should have been the happiest and released him from all the turmoil and inhibitions the horrible experiences of his childhood placed on his life; albeit, he had to (die?) to get there. It is a ghost story after all.
Don't waste your time or money!
cjames250027 June 2009
I just watched this movie and all I can say is: I want my time and money back! Basically the movie drones on and comes to an abrupt ending leaving you irritated. This could have easily been a made-for-TV movie. Tim Daly is just okay (he should stick with comedy) and Tom Arnold's acting seems forced but the real problem is there is not much of a plot and the characters are very one dimensional. Ed Herrmann, who played Richard Gilmore on the popular CW TV show, The Gilmore Girls, is wasted as a well-meaning Psychiatrist. There are some tense and maybe scary scenes but there is no real "A-ha" moment at the end and you are just left with "what? That's it?".
Good relax-and-curl-up-on-the-sofa-with-a-bowl-of-popcorn movie. . .
bunny22662215 May 2009
The movie is about a guy, Bryan Becket (played convincingly by Tim Daly) who, while going through the process of a divorce, moves into his recently deceased aunt's house. The house is soon to be turned over to a University Lab that does sleep studies and studies on paranormal and psychic phenomena. While staying at the house, Bryan becomes aware of strange incidents that allude to a haunting which ultimately entrenches him in a mystery surrounding the secrets of his "blocked" childhood.
What I liked about this movie is that it is very laid-back and down-to-earth in it's telling. The way the haunting unfolds in small but creepy events served to make the hair stand up on the back of my neck. This movie doesn't rely on over-the-top haunting events, thank God, and that's what makes it all the more believable. It's simple but very eerie, the way a haunted house movie should be. I also really liked the characters. They were all unique and compelling people and the dialogue is witty and intelligent. Really worth spending 89 minutes of your life on.
What I liked about this movie is that it is very laid-back and down-to-earth in it's telling. The way the haunting unfolds in small but creepy events served to make the hair stand up on the back of my neck. This movie doesn't rely on over-the-top haunting events, thank God, and that's what makes it all the more believable. It's simple but very eerie, the way a haunted house movie should be. I also really liked the characters. They were all unique and compelling people and the dialogue is witty and intelligent. Really worth spending 89 minutes of your life on.
A solidly creepy & effective haunt flick
Shattered_Wake3 October 2010
Warning: Spoilers
After the death of his aunt, level-headed lawyer Bryan Becket (Timothy Daly of 'Wings') moves into her old house to get things in order with her estate. After learning the house was signed over to a paranormal research lab instead of to him, the unbelieving Bryan begins to delve into the mysteries of the house which his seemingly senile aunt believed to be haunted by malevolent forces. As the days pass and his experiences begin to mirror those of his aunt's, Bryan begins to question his own lack of beliefs and fights to find answers to what is happening in the house.
When this film was first being released, the cast list certainly confused quite a few people. Tim Daly & Tom Arnold have both been fairly out of the limelight since the '90s, which was where the vast majority of their fame came & went. Therefore, it wasn't a huge surprise to see them working in the low-budget, straight-to-video horror sector which is many careers come to die (though Daly is a talented actor, I must say). However, added to those two was an up-and-coming A-list star: the beautiful Zoë Saldaña, who has been featured in such recent blockbusters as 'Star Trek' and 'Avatar.' She was really the selling point to many, and it really was a blessing to this film to have her because I'm sure it would've been seen by a great lot less than it even was.
The film itself does, in fact, warrant a viewing though, with or without the inclusion of Zoë. While haunted-house flicks are not rare to come by in any sector of horror, quality ones or even ones worthy of a watch are very hard to come by. Many horror fans would be hard-pressed to name more than a few solid haunt flicks from the past few years. The main reason for this, perhaps, is because the lack of focus on suspense & tension, which is a shame because those are the elements of good horror that don't require a big budget, just talented filmmakers. For this reason, it's always a real pleasure to find one that slips under the radar and can rise above the rest as a "hidden gem." It seems that 'The Skeptic' can fill that role pretty well.
From a technical standpoint, it is a cut above most straight-to-video horror films, which often have a very cheap & unappealing look to them. Newcomer writer/director Tennyson Bardwell (could there be a better name for a writer?) shows some real talent behind the camera, especially with the help of his editing team led by Ann Marie Lizzi. The script, though lacking in anything spectacularly fresh or original, keeps a pace that never races too fast or slows too much. It did not seem, at any point, to be boring, which can be a disastrous problem for many haunted-house horrors. The acting from Daly & Saldaña was solid, as expected, even with Daly's character being painfully frustrating for much of the film. Then there was Tom Arnold who was his usual annoyingly over-the-top self. Even more annoying than his acting was the fact that he now sounds like he has a perpetually stuffed nose à la Chuckie Finster from 'Rugrats.' Other than that, though, there isn't much to complain about. It does have quite a few chilling scenes and a couple of seriously creepy moments, helped along by both the visual teams and the script.
Overall, the film is not perfect as anyone will see, but what it does right makes it worth the time. It is a solidly creepy & very effective haunted-house thriller with enough mystery, suspense, and scares to keep fans of the subgenre pleased for its 90 minute runtime.
Final Verdict: 6.5/10
-AP3-
When this film was first being released, the cast list certainly confused quite a few people. Tim Daly & Tom Arnold have both been fairly out of the limelight since the '90s, which was where the vast majority of their fame came & went. Therefore, it wasn't a huge surprise to see them working in the low-budget, straight-to-video horror sector which is many careers come to die (though Daly is a talented actor, I must say). However, added to those two was an up-and-coming A-list star: the beautiful Zoë Saldaña, who has been featured in such recent blockbusters as 'Star Trek' and 'Avatar.' She was really the selling point to many, and it really was a blessing to this film to have her because I'm sure it would've been seen by a great lot less than it even was.
The film itself does, in fact, warrant a viewing though, with or without the inclusion of Zoë. While haunted-house flicks are not rare to come by in any sector of horror, quality ones or even ones worthy of a watch are very hard to come by. Many horror fans would be hard-pressed to name more than a few solid haunt flicks from the past few years. The main reason for this, perhaps, is because the lack of focus on suspense & tension, which is a shame because those are the elements of good horror that don't require a big budget, just talented filmmakers. For this reason, it's always a real pleasure to find one that slips under the radar and can rise above the rest as a "hidden gem." It seems that 'The Skeptic' can fill that role pretty well.
From a technical standpoint, it is a cut above most straight-to-video horror films, which often have a very cheap & unappealing look to them. Newcomer writer/director Tennyson Bardwell (could there be a better name for a writer?) shows some real talent behind the camera, especially with the help of his editing team led by Ann Marie Lizzi. The script, though lacking in anything spectacularly fresh or original, keeps a pace that never races too fast or slows too much. It did not seem, at any point, to be boring, which can be a disastrous problem for many haunted-house horrors. The acting from Daly & Saldaña was solid, as expected, even with Daly's character being painfully frustrating for much of the film. Then there was Tom Arnold who was his usual annoyingly over-the-top self. Even more annoying than his acting was the fact that he now sounds like he has a perpetually stuffed nose à la Chuckie Finster from 'Rugrats.' Other than that, though, there isn't much to complain about. It does have quite a few chilling scenes and a couple of seriously creepy moments, helped along by both the visual teams and the script.
Overall, the film is not perfect as anyone will see, but what it does right makes it worth the time. It is a solidly creepy & very effective haunted-house thriller with enough mystery, suspense, and scares to keep fans of the subgenre pleased for its 90 minute runtime.
Final Verdict: 6.5/10
-AP3-
Dull and pointless! yawn
fletcher-5532528 July 2020
Chills without gore in tepid ghost story in need of a satisfying ending...
Doylenf2 September 2011
TIM DALY stars as a skeptical lawyer with no belief in the supernatural who moves into the house of a deceased aunt when his marriage breaks up. He soon believes that he's not alone in the creepy mansion and begins to doubt his sanity after some encounters of a ghostly kind that might just be happening in his head.
Before he knows it, he's getting assistance from a woman psychic (ZOE SALDANA) who tells him the house holds a grim secret. Gradually, we discover that the key to the haunting lies in his past, when he was subjected to harsh treatment at the age of five from a mother whose punishment makes "Mommie Dearest" look like "Snow White." So far, so good.
There are some nice shivery moments but we keep hoping for our hero to see the light and discover just what is going on. It takes a little too long to reach that conclusion and when it does, the ending is an unsatisfying letdown that leaves you jolted just as the end credits begin to unfold. That's it? Yes, an ambiguous and terribly disappointing and empty stone wall conclusion that provides more questions than answers.
Most viewers will feel cheated by the ending, after a fairly good case of goose pimples from a low key, rather tepid ghost story. In the central role of the lawyer, Tim Daly proves almost as adept at drama as he was in comedy roles. TOM ARNOLD, as a sympathetic colleague, has little to do but bark his lines in snappy fashion.
Before he knows it, he's getting assistance from a woman psychic (ZOE SALDANA) who tells him the house holds a grim secret. Gradually, we discover that the key to the haunting lies in his past, when he was subjected to harsh treatment at the age of five from a mother whose punishment makes "Mommie Dearest" look like "Snow White." So far, so good.
There are some nice shivery moments but we keep hoping for our hero to see the light and discover just what is going on. It takes a little too long to reach that conclusion and when it does, the ending is an unsatisfying letdown that leaves you jolted just as the end credits begin to unfold. That's it? Yes, an ambiguous and terribly disappointing and empty stone wall conclusion that provides more questions than answers.
Most viewers will feel cheated by the ending, after a fairly good case of goose pimples from a low key, rather tepid ghost story. In the central role of the lawyer, Tim Daly proves almost as adept at drama as he was in comedy roles. TOM ARNOLD, as a sympathetic colleague, has little to do but bark his lines in snappy fashion.
sigh..a masterpiece crowned by a puddle of mud
chasrar10 February 2011
Warning: Spoilers
The movie begins and constructs itself with a pretty decent structure. It often shocks you with a sudden unexpected horror tricks and you've to spare those scenes even if your mind says that its a cliché.
Suddenly, the movie ends with an epic conclusion of absurdity, leaving ton of unanswered questions, while you end up convincing yourself that," OK! its not a mystery, its a bad story". What happened to him? is he dead? is he knocked down? what happened to his wife? whats the purpose of the psychic girl if she didn't prove anything? is he imagining his mother repenting for her sins or as in her soul regrets her sins?
A decent ending would be him crying in front of her wife, emotionally broke and showing some respect for the world and not being a jerk, who sees the world as a skeptic.
But no the writer had to crown a masterpiece with a puddle of mud to create some kind of mystery which is out of fashion in horror movies these days. It could have been an 8 movie but below 6 now, and that's the price you pay by spoiling a perfect story.
Suddenly, the movie ends with an epic conclusion of absurdity, leaving ton of unanswered questions, while you end up convincing yourself that," OK! its not a mystery, its a bad story". What happened to him? is he dead? is he knocked down? what happened to his wife? whats the purpose of the psychic girl if she didn't prove anything? is he imagining his mother repenting for her sins or as in her soul regrets her sins?
A decent ending would be him crying in front of her wife, emotionally broke and showing some respect for the world and not being a jerk, who sees the world as a skeptic.
But no the writer had to crown a masterpiece with a puddle of mud to create some kind of mystery which is out of fashion in horror movies these days. It could have been an 8 movie but below 6 now, and that's the price you pay by spoiling a perfect story.
This movie is the exact reason why I don't want to live in a big, old house by myself...
jimrin1 May 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Like some others have already stated, this movie has some places that will make you jump... and this movie is a nice change-of-pace over those other type of horror movies which are more just blood and guts. From this perspective, this movie reminds me of "The Others".
I thought it had a nice story about closure of a relationship between a man and his mother. Most complaints seem to be about the ending, but I have no complaints about the ending. True, the ending is up for interpretation whether his mother wanted closure with her son or if he only imagined it. Being the optimist I am, I choose to think that the former represents the ending.
Some people also complain there doesn't seem to be closure with his wife and son, but considering (1) his wife's complaint about him was that was is too unemotional and (2) she felt the reason for his behavior had something to do with his mother, to me, again being the optimist, there is full closure as well. With what he experienced, he should be able to be more open-minded, more emotional, and more of the type of husband and father that his wife wants him to be.
With the slew of mediocre movies I had been watching recently, this movie was a pleasant surprise. (Currently I rate this as a 7 but I may have to raise it to an 8.)
I thought it had a nice story about closure of a relationship between a man and his mother. Most complaints seem to be about the ending, but I have no complaints about the ending. True, the ending is up for interpretation whether his mother wanted closure with her son or if he only imagined it. Being the optimist I am, I choose to think that the former represents the ending.
Some people also complain there doesn't seem to be closure with his wife and son, but considering (1) his wife's complaint about him was that was is too unemotional and (2) she felt the reason for his behavior had something to do with his mother, to me, again being the optimist, there is full closure as well. With what he experienced, he should be able to be more open-minded, more emotional, and more of the type of husband and father that his wife wants him to be.
With the slew of mediocre movies I had been watching recently, this movie was a pleasant surprise. (Currently I rate this as a 7 but I may have to raise it to an 8.)
Tim daly is the worst actor along side Tom Arnold
lopezpatricia-0613911 August 2020
This was the worst I've seen in a long time. How Tim daly gets work is beyond me. Tom Arnold looks like crap totally duh messed up. He even seemed high on camera. And shock horror the ahura chick from Star Trek was so annoying in her role I was stunned that it was her. 2 frights you get out of this crap fest. Shelf this rubbish.
Intriguing story, but ends flat
trentxgreis13 December 2023
Honestly I was really enjoying this, but I feel like it ended too abruptly/prematurely right when we should've gotten a more intense and emotional "fight scene" I guess you could say. Honestly even another 10-20 minutes could've really helped make the ending more enjoyable and satisfying. I was also hoping we would see more of Cassie and that she would play a role in the ending of the movie. I would probably have rated this a bit higher if it wasn't for the ending because I feel like it had interesting characters and dynamics, as well as good performances from all of the cast. If you're on the fence about watching this, I would say do it since it was pretty enjoyable for the most part!
A little bit
baunacholi-8615920 January 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Too low profile. A little bit too tame. A little bit unfinished as well in my POV ... And still, an interesting story and an update to the usual haunted house movies. The aspect of coping with child abuse as a vehicle to explain paranormal activities gave the skeptic some depth. Ultimately it did not explore its potential - unfortunately.
Scarier things than Tom Arnold lurk in this movie
east-emerald3 March 2010
Warning: Spoilers
The set up: Our main character Bryan Beckett (Tim Daly) inherits a rambling Victorian style mansion from his aunt and moves into the house while settling the estate. Bryan is the skeptic referred to in the title and finds his stoicism tested by seemingly supernatural events in the house.
The Good: This is a review that will be very upfront that I am not exactly happy I gave up time to watch the movie. There are only two real stars here. The first is the gorgeous house which was totally distracting during some of the movie's more dull parts. The stock character of the local priest warns Bryan, "There is something not right about that house". Being the constant HGTV viewer, I wondered if he was referring the plumbing, wiring or maybe termites. Such speculation was a nice diversion. The second is Zoe Saldana in the small role of Cassie, a paranormal expert of sorts who helps Bryan discover work his way through the mystery. She is a fantastic actress who I am so happy has found success in the form of the new Star Trek franchise. For about 15 minutes while she was on the screen, Jeff (my yet to be named movie watching partner) turned to me and said, "this is getting interesting". It did not last though.
The Bad: I don't know where to begin. I could say The Skeptic is a half decent attempt at low budget horror, but I would have to ignore so much. The combination of clunky writing and bad acting is dismal. There are some exchanges between Bryan and his best bud, Sully (Tom Arnold) where you almost feel the writer is getting into a groove, but then just as suddenly everything switches back to a state best described as awkward. As an example, the script hits you over the head in the first 15 minutes that Bryan is an unemotional skeptic , but below the surface we are also supposed to feel he is troubled. There is no nuance here. Daly is forced either to play straight on "skeptic" or emotional basket case. I used the word clunky before and it is so appropriate to describe him switching back and forth between the two. Oh and the ending. I'll give you that it is creepy but you could interpret it several different ways. I don't need to be spoon-fed my movie plots but as the viewer I would have appreciated a hint. Without that my question is did the writer really intend to create the most evil mother since "Mommy Dearest". Final verdict – great concept but horrible execution.
The Good: This is a review that will be very upfront that I am not exactly happy I gave up time to watch the movie. There are only two real stars here. The first is the gorgeous house which was totally distracting during some of the movie's more dull parts. The stock character of the local priest warns Bryan, "There is something not right about that house". Being the constant HGTV viewer, I wondered if he was referring the plumbing, wiring or maybe termites. Such speculation was a nice diversion. The second is Zoe Saldana in the small role of Cassie, a paranormal expert of sorts who helps Bryan discover work his way through the mystery. She is a fantastic actress who I am so happy has found success in the form of the new Star Trek franchise. For about 15 minutes while she was on the screen, Jeff (my yet to be named movie watching partner) turned to me and said, "this is getting interesting". It did not last though.
The Bad: I don't know where to begin. I could say The Skeptic is a half decent attempt at low budget horror, but I would have to ignore so much. The combination of clunky writing and bad acting is dismal. There are some exchanges between Bryan and his best bud, Sully (Tom Arnold) where you almost feel the writer is getting into a groove, but then just as suddenly everything switches back to a state best described as awkward. As an example, the script hits you over the head in the first 15 minutes that Bryan is an unemotional skeptic , but below the surface we are also supposed to feel he is troubled. There is no nuance here. Daly is forced either to play straight on "skeptic" or emotional basket case. I used the word clunky before and it is so appropriate to describe him switching back and forth between the two. Oh and the ending. I'll give you that it is creepy but you could interpret it several different ways. I don't need to be spoon-fed my movie plots but as the viewer I would have appreciated a hint. Without that my question is did the writer really intend to create the most evil mother since "Mommy Dearest". Final verdict – great concept but horrible execution.
Not exactly what I had expected...
paul_haakonsen30 December 2016
With a very alluring synopsis, I sat down to watch "The Skeptic" with the hopes for a haunting. However, the movie did turn out to be something beyond that. A good or bad thing? Well, I had expected it to be a supernatural story about a haunting, so my expectations were throws a bit off course with what the movie turned out to be.
"The Skeptic" starts out quite well and does build up some interesting characters and situations. And director Tennyson Bardwell did manage to keep the movie going at a good pace and build up some really tense situations. Personally, I didn't enjoy the revelation of what was really going on, although you did guess it about halfway through the movie, so it was not a surprise twist of events. Just a bit disappointing to me.
I don't think I have seen Tim Daly in anything since "Wings", which was a great show back then. So I wasn't sure what to expect here. But I was more than pleasantly surprised, because he really did a good job and carried the movie quite nicely. And he had most of the weight of the movie on his shoulders as he was essentially solo in the movie most of the time. But he held his ground and performed quite well.
What really worked out quite well for this movie was the character gallery. They had some very interesting and well-detailed characters in the storyline. And I was especially fond of Bryan Becket (played by Tim Daly) because of his skeptic approach to everything supernatural and his direct method of handling things. So the characters in the movie were well-rounded and had personalities and depth to them.
Now, there were very little special or practical effects in the movie, which was a disappointment to me. But of course, with what the movie actually turned out to be, it would have made no sense to have had "The Skeptic" to be a movie filled with special effects.
There were some good and tense moments here and there throughout the course of the movie, but I wouldn't really say that this movie was rich on actual scary moments. So the thriller aspect of the movie outweighs the horror aspect, just as a heads up.
"The Skeptic" is hardly a movie that warrants more than a single viewing, because the storyline just doesn't have enough aspects, levels or depth to support entertainment for more than a single viewing.
I was fairly entertained, but found the turn of events and the root of actual events to be a bit disappointing. And as such, then I am rating "The Skeptic" a mediocre five out of ten stars.
"The Skeptic" starts out quite well and does build up some interesting characters and situations. And director Tennyson Bardwell did manage to keep the movie going at a good pace and build up some really tense situations. Personally, I didn't enjoy the revelation of what was really going on, although you did guess it about halfway through the movie, so it was not a surprise twist of events. Just a bit disappointing to me.
I don't think I have seen Tim Daly in anything since "Wings", which was a great show back then. So I wasn't sure what to expect here. But I was more than pleasantly surprised, because he really did a good job and carried the movie quite nicely. And he had most of the weight of the movie on his shoulders as he was essentially solo in the movie most of the time. But he held his ground and performed quite well.
What really worked out quite well for this movie was the character gallery. They had some very interesting and well-detailed characters in the storyline. And I was especially fond of Bryan Becket (played by Tim Daly) because of his skeptic approach to everything supernatural and his direct method of handling things. So the characters in the movie were well-rounded and had personalities and depth to them.
Now, there were very little special or practical effects in the movie, which was a disappointment to me. But of course, with what the movie actually turned out to be, it would have made no sense to have had "The Skeptic" to be a movie filled with special effects.
There were some good and tense moments here and there throughout the course of the movie, but I wouldn't really say that this movie was rich on actual scary moments. So the thriller aspect of the movie outweighs the horror aspect, just as a heads up.
"The Skeptic" is hardly a movie that warrants more than a single viewing, because the storyline just doesn't have enough aspects, levels or depth to support entertainment for more than a single viewing.
I was fairly entertained, but found the turn of events and the root of actual events to be a bit disappointing. And as such, then I am rating "The Skeptic" a mediocre five out of ten stars.
Ignore the fact its a "tv cast" this is actually a very good thriller worth the time to see
dbborroughs14 August 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Surprisingly good horror film about an unemotional married man who's aunt dies leaving him her house. With his marriage in trouble (his wife would like him to show some emotion over something) he moves into the house as part of trial separation. Unfortunately he begins have odd experiences, hearing voices and seeing his dead mother. Further complications arise when it appears the house wasn't left to him but a researcher in sleep deprivation with a side interest in ghosts. As things progress it becomes clear that to unlock the secrets of the house might open doors on dark family secrets. Timothy Daley and Tom Arnold (don't laugh) headline a really good little thriller. Not jump out of your seat scary the film does generate a good amount of tension while firing off appropriate one liners about the situation. Never crossing the line into silliness the film manages to remain solid thrill ride that held my attention to the end. At a time when I'm frequently running across films I lose interest in almost instantly or jumping to the end of so I know how it comes out its so nice to find a movie that not only keeps me watching to the end, it keeps me up until late at night doing so. If there is any flaw in this small scale gem, its that the casting of Daley, Arnold and other TV stalwarts makes the film feel as though its less than it is. After all how can any film with this many TV actors be good? Trust me it is. As I said its not jump out of your seat scary but it is satisfying and well done.
between 7 and 8 out of 10
between 7 and 8 out of 10
As hauntings go, it's ok.
neil-douglas20108 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Considering we've all seen haunted house movies before, this is a lot better than it should be.
Bryan Beckett (Daly) inherits his Aunts house and after a separation with his wife decides to move into his Aunt's house. But the house is haunted, and he finds out through a doctor he was abused by his mother. He didn't know this of course and his mind deteriorates. He later discovers that it was he would kill his mother after being abused one day.
Some good performances in this film, especially Zoe Saldana as Cassie (a psychic) and surprisingly Tom Arnold as his boss. Just don't expect too much.
Bryan Beckett (Daly) inherits his Aunts house and after a separation with his wife decides to move into his Aunt's house. But the house is haunted, and he finds out through a doctor he was abused by his mother. He didn't know this of course and his mind deteriorates. He later discovers that it was he would kill his mother after being abused one day.
Some good performances in this film, especially Zoe Saldana as Cassie (a psychic) and surprisingly Tom Arnold as his boss. Just don't expect too much.
Skip It!
dbwilliford1 November 2011
For those of you that caught Tim Daly in the NBC hit Wings or in his role as the leader of the Branch Davidians in the made for TV movie of the week; do yourself a favor with your hour and twenty minutes of free time.... SKIP THIS PIECE OF HORSE BLEEP. Tom Arnold and the chick from Avatar are the lone bright spots in this horrible production. IFC should've never green lit this film.
But of course if you are into predictable plot lines and shaky dialogue, then by all means this is the film for you. It also casts the guy from Richie Rich (they same dude that was the Dad in Gilmore Girls) yeah that guy as some Doctor who does stuff but doesn't reveal to Daly about other stuff and well you get the point.
SKIP IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But of course if you are into predictable plot lines and shaky dialogue, then by all means this is the film for you. It also casts the guy from Richie Rich (they same dude that was the Dad in Gilmore Girls) yeah that guy as some Doctor who does stuff but doesn't reveal to Daly about other stuff and well you get the point.
SKIP IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
