The Skeptic (2008)

8% of critics liked it
(12 reviews)
30% of users liked it
(10,016 ratings)

A skeptical attorney moves into a beautiful house with an ominous history, only to experience a series of bizarre and frightening occurrences beyond his comprehension. Bryan Becket (Tim Daly) never believed in the supernatural. When Bryan's aunt dies under mysterious circumstances, he dismisses… More A skeptical attorney moves into a beautiful house with an ominous history, only to experience a series of bizarre and frightening occurrences beyond his comprehension. Bryan Becket (Tim Daly) never believed in the supernatural. When Bryan's aunt dies under mysterious circumstances, he dismisses reports that her house is haunted and decides to move in. Almost immediately, Bryan begins to suspect that there is something terribly wrong with the house; voices begin calling out to him from the darkness, seemingly providing clues to some deep mystery. Though he senses that he is somehow connected to the house, he can't figure out how and begins questioning his own sanity. In his search for medical help, Bryan comes into contact with a young psychic (Zoe Saldana) who claims the house harbors a dreadful secret. Together, Bryan and the psychic prepare to unlock a mystery that leads them both into the darkest corners of the skeptic's own disturbed mind. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Tennyson Bardwell
Written By: Tennyson Bardwell
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Horror

In Theaters: May 1, 2009 Wide
On DVD: Dec 8, 2009
Studio: IFC Films

Critic Reviews

Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times
Old-fashioned in the worst sense, Bardwell's ghost story is heavy on Freud, light on fear.
Stephen Holden, New York Times
I'll take a bunch of teenagers terrorized by chain-saw-wielding zombies any day.
Frank Lovece, Hollywood Reporter
Bardwell writes and directs carefully though without inspiration, leaving open the question of whether the house is really haunted.
Ed Gonzalez, Village Voice
A mechanical compendium of anti-skepticism clichés, right down to the obligatory post-realization upchuck.
Prairie Miller, NewsBlaze
While horror movies have become tedious fare, relying on recycled gotcha scare tactics, this brainteaser blend of the logical, psychological and psychic aims to keep viewers on their toes, as well as at the edge of their seats.
Cynthia Fuchs, PopMatters
You know you're in trouble when the most appealing element your film is Tom Arnold.
Brian Tallerico, Movie Retriever
A film with good ideas and performances but weak, predictable, two-dimensional, frustrating dialogue.
Prairie Miller, NewsBlaze
While horror movies have become tedious fare, relying on recycled gotcha scare tactics, this brainteaser blend of the logical, psychological and psychic aims to keep viewers on their toes, as well as at the edge of their seats.
Steve Ramos, Boxoffice Magazine
Polished but dull.
Maitland McDonagh, Miss FlickChick
This old-fashioned psychological ghost story ... repeatedly compels supposedly mature and intelligent people to do preposterous things in order to keep the plot moving.
David Fear, Time Out New York
Tennyson Bardwell's pretentious psycho-supernatural flick doesn't even qualify as guilty-pleasure camp. It's the sort of bad movie that will make you lose faith in the genre altogether.
Geoff Berkshire, Metromix.com
Too tepid to ever get your heart racing and too simple to engage the mind.
Fernando F. Croce, Slant Magazine
The supernatural is the hobgoblin of the titular doubting Thomas in The Skeptic, though judging by writer-director Tennyson Bardwell's hapless mood shifts in this tepid horror-comedy, it seems consistency of tone deserves even less credibility.

Read all 13 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Bruce B

This is a pretty good film about a man who has a hidden past, separated from his wife and moves into his dead aunt's house. While living there its very apparent that its haunted and is so because of him, the house holds a secret so what is it? Film is a little creepy in spots,… More
This is a pretty good film about a man who has a hidden past, separated from his wife and moves into his dead aunt's house. While living there its very apparent that its haunted and is so because of him, the house holds a secret so what is it? Film is a little creepy in spots, more of a suspense film then horror. Worth 4 Stars'
Wahida K

The Plot was very familiar to me. I have seen another Movie with exactly same Story but I cannt remember the title. Well there was tiny bit in the plot and ofcourse the actors, difference but everything else was same.
♥˩ƳИИ &

After a mysterious death of his Aunt, a confirmed skeptic lawyer, Brian Becket, (TIm Daly) dismisses reports that her house is haunted and moves in after deciding to separate from his wife. Immediately occurrences begin he cannot explain. And beyond the occurrences there is something… More
After a mysterious death of his Aunt, a confirmed skeptic lawyer, Brian Becket, (TIm Daly) dismisses reports that her house is haunted and moves in after deciding to separate from his wife. Immediately occurrences begin he cannot explain. And beyond the occurrences there is something about the house which gnaws at Becket - some strange connection he senses he has with the house's past. Soon, the haunting turns personal, he hears voices suggesting clues to a deep mystery. He questions his sanity, seeks medical help, but instead finds assistance in a young psychic (Zoe Saldana) who immediately declares, "There's a very bad secret in this house." Together they embark on a terrifying journey to uncover the secret - a journey which leads them deep into the recesses of The Skeptic's own troubled mind. I was really interested in this movie because I thought it had an interesting story line. Not just a movie about the scares. The way the haunting in this movie unravels is in the way it makes the hair on your body stick up.. That creepy feeling you get when you think your being watched or someone else is in the room with you. It wasn't over the top, but very settle and I liked that. It was a very creepy, eerie type of movie. I jumped a few times.. It's a terrific ghost story and well worth the watch.
Jacob P

The most slow-paced\boring horror suspense film of all time.
Sarah P

This wasn't scary - not even in the "I'm going to jump because something unexpected pops up on the screen" way. Ehhh.
Chosen 7

Interesting psychological/supernatural-drama [written and directed by newcomer Tennyson Bardwell] about a lawyer who doesn't believe in anything until he stays in his dead aunt's house and begins to see things that lead to revelations about his family. Great performances by… More
Interesting psychological/supernatural-drama [written and directed by newcomer Tennyson Bardwell] about a lawyer who doesn't believe in anything until he stays in his dead aunt's house and begins to see things that lead to revelations about his family. Great performances by Tim Daly [most notably from the classic sitcom "Wings"] and Zoe Saldana [most notably from "Avatar", "Star Trek", the independent film "Premium"...as well as the upcoming films "The Losers", "Death at a Funeral", and "Takers"]...she stole the few scenes she was in and was almost the highlight of this movie]. Good performances by Andrea Roth [from "Rescue Me"], Edward Hermann, Bruce Altman, Robert Prosky, and Tom Arnold. Good writing and cinematography. The first 20 or so minutes didn't impress me much up until these quotes: "You're a close-minded man"..."because you don't think; you know"; after that there were quite a few jumpy moments...the music definitely helped [good score]. Overall it's a surprisingly good film with a poetic ending.
d j

Well...is the house haunted or not? it's all based on your judgement..this movie is more about psychology mindgame... the movie is okay. I liked the whole idea of this film even though its been done many times before.I enjoyed watching it 1 time but know iill never watch it… More
Well...is the house haunted or not? it's all based on your judgement..this movie is more about psychology mindgame... the movie is okay. I liked the whole idea of this film even though its been done many times before.I enjoyed watching it 1 time but know iill never watch it again.... warning: the acting is not that great!