Search - The Skeptic on DVD

Sharon F. (Shar) from AVON PARK, FL
Reviewed on 10/7/2024...

This is MY kind of horror movie! No blood and guts, just lots of twists and turns and frightening things. This is a psychological thriller that keeps your heart rate up there.

Michael G. (mgmirkin) from PORTLAND, OR
Reviewed on 11/1/2010...

This movie was a lot better than I expected.

It's your basic haunted house, ghost story, with some psychological questions thrown in. Acting's good, mood is good, Tom Arnold isn't TOO annoying.

Is he going insane? Is he uncovering repressed memories? Is he seeing ghosts? Is the house haunted? Is it his fault? Who knows...

All I know is that I thought it was a pretty good movie. It wasn't generally too frightening, though there were a few attempted jump-scares at various points, that were more or less successful. It seemed to take a decent tack on an oft-used subject. Maybe not innovative in the extreme (it is basically a haunted house movie, after all), but it manages to make good. The ending was a little too predictable. But, once you start getting the clues to what's going on, you kind of expect it anyway.

Anyway, I think it was good and certainly worth a watch or two...

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Interesting take on the Paranormal

Gotham Night | 06/23/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"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.

"

Creepy and scary - just right!!

T. Betts | Sanford, Florida United States | 06/10/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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!"