Customer Reviews

The Skeptic

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

_The Skeptic_ (2008) is a decent movie about a lawyer/skeptic who is forced to re-think things after he starts seeing visions of ghosts. The movie brings up important issues from psychology such as how perception/misperception determines our reality, etc. The movie also touches upon the philosophical issues that have taken such an important place in the modern world - skepticism/gullibility, openness, reason and science, and the role of faith, etc. Ultimately, the film shows the descent of the skeptic into madness as he is increasingly haunted by memories of his past and visions of ghosts. Although he begins as highly skeptical, he is initially challenged by a para-psychological researcher (who also doubts the supernatural) into re-thinking his world-view and understanding. After it is revealed to him how perceptions can deceive, he begins to question certain aspects of reality. He then consults a psychologist who discusses with him his early childhood and shows him the difficulties he must face. At the end, he must confront his past and the ghost of his dead mother.

I caught this on cable recently and was pleasantly surprised that someone still knows how to make an old-fashioned horror film, in a similar vein as "Two On A Guillotine", or a William Castle film and other black-and-white scary films of the late 50's/early 60's. It also reminded me a bit of something Rod Serling might have done, similar to a Night Gallery episode. It's more of a psychologically-based horror film than it is modern day horror film. (If you're sick of vampire movies, you might find this one really refreshing to see, a film that harkens back to the days of those earlier fright films mentioned.) Recommended for good, old-fashioned haunted house movie scares.

When you've never heard about the movie in which you find yourself engrossed, it is like that little extra, that unexpected flavor in your food or that check that suddenly arrives in the mail. "The Skeptic" was just one of those experiences that excited our senses as we found ourselves engrossed in its eerie suspense, spine-tingling script, and good acting.

Timothy Daly played by Bryan Becket is a successful lawyer and a realist, skeptical of supernatural explanations. He inherits a house from an aunt, and it is said to be haunted. He decides to stay there until the estate is settled. That and his estrangement from his wife provide the foundation of the plot. Even as he drives to the house, you want to tell Beckett's character to not go in there. Daly starts to hear strange sounds and experience strange phenomena from his arrival. Not being able to explain it, he seeks the guidance of a priest who tells him there are supernatural as well as rational explanations. He also seeks the help of a psychiatrist who doesn't believe in the supernatural, but both leave Daly unsatisfied with rational explanations from what he is experiencing. If it isn't supernatural, is he going crazy? Are the strange sounds and experiences hallucinations or an extension of a fugue? When he meets Cassie, she tells him that the things he hears and sees doesn't mean the house is talking to him. She senses the house is haunted and advises Daly to leave.

Edward Hermann plays Dr. Shepard, Daly's psychiatrist who fits one of the final pieces of the puzzle to what went on in the lawyer's childhood. Father Wymond played by the able actor Robert Prosky also knows something about his childhood that he won't accept. Cassie's character is played by Zoe Saldana. The cinematography is excellent and adds to the chilling experience yet to come.

The haunting part is one of the last lines in the movie: "Very good, mother. You got me back in.

He begins to believe.

I've seen this movie offered through netflex but decided to pass. Glad I caught it on showtime. I never heard about this one. It was worth the watch..I hated the ending, but only because this one isn't like most movies and I wanted there to be a different ending. I'll leave it at that. Watch this one.

The Skeptic is a mixed bag of a horror film, but I will give it credit for at least having atmosphere and actually generating some sense of eeriness. The film is a little uneven with some unnecessary subplots, but I think in terms of giving the viewer that uneasy feeling in a haunted house, it works better than many other films of this nature. I also liked how a lot of the haunted happening were explained away by silly over active imagination. It actually makes us a little confused thinking....is this house haunted?.....are these things really happening? It's works very well on this level, but I found that Tom Arnold's character was almost completely unnecessary and the film seemed to steer away from the main story losing focus.

I do think this is a film worth seeing and could have been a real winner. It's a shame because not many horror films have this much going for it....maybe if I watch it a few times I can start to overlook its flaws?

It's a story about a lawyer, Bryan, whose aunt dies in her house, and in his self-important and arrogant way, Bryan simply takes possession of the old home, never dreaming he would be challenged in this regard, since he is the only family she had left. Bryan is unemotional and analytical, an excellent lawyer; however, as a father and husband, these traits do not bode well with his wife or son, and Bryan decides to separate from them for a while and live in his aunt's now empty home. While Bryan is already tallying up the money to be made on his aunt's expensive antiques, to his surprise, his law partner finds a hand written will made my Bryan's aunt, and she has left the house to an institute which researches the paranormal, among other things. He visits the institute and confronts the head researcher, who doesn't seem the least bit interested in the house, but explains to Bryan why his aunt did mention the institute in her will. It seems Bryan's aunt thought the house was haunted, an idea that Bryan cannot wrap his head around and deems utter nonsense. The researcher agrees, he also does not believe in the supernatural and does his utmost to debunk the phenomenon through his research. As Bryan takes up residence in the old home and begins to experience unexplained noises, voices, and sightings, the skeptic suddenly finds himself trying to convince others that there is indeed something going on at his aunt's home. Who really is the skeptic now? It takes Bryan on a journey of rediscovering memories and events that could threaten to destroy his self-satisfied and successful life and career that he has built for himself, like a wall around him. There are revelations upon revelations. Bryan now knows what vulnerability is, and he also knows that his life can never be the same again.

Tim Daly gives an amazing performance as Bryan, very credible and moving. Tom Arnold was wonderful as his law partner, and his wife, played by Andrea Roth, was very convincing in portraying her frustration and deep love for her husband. I did not like the role of the psychic played by Zoe Saldana. She played it way too over the top and I half expected her to whip out some snakes and do a voodoo ritual, rather than just portray a concerned psychic who was there to help Bryan. Her scenes were distracting and unnecessarily over dramatized, as when she bites the researcher's face and bears her claws at Bryan. I didn't buy it for one minute. And I didn't like her overt sexuality toward Bryan, it wasn't necessary to the story line at all. However, I did enjoy the movie for the other performances and for the concept, although, in my opinion, the ending was misjudged and totally unsatisfying. I will say no more on that. I do recommend this movie for it's unique take on the paranormal and for Tim Daly's wonderful performance.

Happened upon this by accident - loved it!! As a long-time fan of the horror/scary genre, I love a movie that makes me laugh, cry, and jump within a short span of time. I actually cried out a few times, I was so into it! Great suspense and acting and I would recommend it highly!

The Skeptic is a horror movie that manages to enthrall the audience without resorting to a blood-fest or in-your-face nightmarish images. This is the kind of film that made me a horror movie fan back in grade school. Great performances, production values and the pure power of suggestion are enough to bring me back to The Skeptic over and over again. The writing is intelligent, and will captivate you from the opening scene.

Excellent film well worth purchasing!

I think sometimes that film critics need to vent, so they take their anger out on little indie films. They get paid specifically NOT to criticize big-budget films. Okay, now that my little rant is done, here goes:

Tim Daly stars as Bryan Beckett, a sarcastic attorney who inherits an old house after his aunt dies. He immediately senses something is not right with the house, but refuses to acknowledge the presence of any ghost or paranormal event whatsoever. At first, he is easily able to logically explain away the strange events, but as the voices become more intense and ghosts actually begin to appear, Beckett runs out of ways to explain what is happening. He gets some help from the lovely and talented Zoe Saldana, who plays a psychic, and eventually learns the truth about the old house, his family secrets, and his hidden past.

There are some refreshing elements here. Tom Arnold is excellent as Beckett's friend and law partner. Robert Prosky is typically fantastic as a jovial preacher, in his final film role. Daly does well in his expanded starring role, despite over-acting at times. Please note: this film is NOT for you if you like to see guts and gore and naked college girls running around getting their heads cut off. This film is more subtle. It makes you think a little, but in no way is it complicated like "Memento." It's just a good old-fashioned ghost story that relies more on mood than on cheap thrills. In other words, if you are a big fan of the 1970's haunted house/ghost movies, this would be right up your alley.

I bought this on the strength of writer/director Tennyson Bardwell's first film, the independent "Dorian Blues", which won many awards at gay/lesbian film festivals. Bardwell has really come of age as a filmmaker, delivering a high-quality production that stands right up there with anything else made today, and will appeal to all. I was particularly delighted with the ongoing suspense he maintained without ever resorting to gore or violence. My heart was beating rapidly for much of the movie, and it left a smile on my face to know that quality suspense films can still be made without shock techniques.