Tell-Tale - 2009

Movie #123

3 stars

In this thriller inspired by Edgar Allen Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart," Josh Lucas stars as Terry, a single dad who's kept alive by another man's heart -- a scenario that suits him fine until he discovers that the ticker's original owner was murdered. Worried that he might come to a similar end, Terry embarks on a desperate search for the donor's killer.

Cast: Josh Lucas, Lena Headey, Brian Cox, Beatrice Miller, Dallas Roberts, Ulrich Thomsen, Pablo Schreiber, Jamie Harrold, Tom Riis Farrell, Tom Kemp

Director: Michael Cuesta

Tagline: Truth Lies a Heartbeat Away.

Filming Location: Rhode Island


Likes: The movie was interesting I suppose. There were times that were definitely suspenseful. I liked Josh Lucas and I like Lena Headey...but....

Dislikes: ....the writing was pretty bad. To say that the movie was inspired by the Tell-Tale Heart is an overstatement. Yes, the main character can hear his heartbeat...but that is about it. Even I guess my major complaint is just the fact that the movie dragged...a lot.

I was reading a review on IGN and this paragraph pretty much sums it up...

But ultimately the movie is a disappointment for fans of Cuesta's previous feature output who might be looking for something more than just a standard thriller here. The director seemed to feel the need to explain himself in this regard at the screening IGN attended, telling the audience prior to the film's start that this was much more of a genre picture than his other movies. That's pretty much all it is -- a decent if unremarkable little thriller.