The Tall Man (2012) Reviews

• It's not a horror film!

  moviewizguy2012-06-20

  THE TALL MAN is directed by Pascal Laugier, who directed MARTYRS. From that sentence alone, you're probably already formulating expectations that this will be a bloody, nasty, little horror film starring Jessica Biel. In fact, you can't be any more wrong. The most important thing you need to know about this film before seeing it is that it's NOT a horror film. It's more of a mystery thriller/drama. The second important thing is to avoid all and potential spoilers. I went in knowing very little about the film (other than its basic storyline), and the end result is that much better. Early reviews for THE TALL MAN suggests that it's a horrible film, but I'm pretty sure the negative reception had more to do with people expecting it to be a full-fledged horror flick rather than its actual quality. In fact, I'm afraid the film's fall would be due to people's expectations. If there is one similarity between MARTYRS and this film, it would be the presence of an underlying social commentary. Other than that, the similarity ends there. Jessica Biel, the lead actress, pulls off a phenomenal performance. She brings incredible conviction to her role that she holds our attention. The film is also shot beautifully, and director Laugier does a masterful job keeping people guessing until the very end. Overall, the film is likely to polarize the audience like Laugier did with MARTYRS. However, if you leave your expectations at the door and your mind opened, you may be left surprised and profoundly moved.

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• Great Thought Provoking, Not what you would expect, this is not a horror movie.

  asrivarde2012-10-21

  i really don't write reviews a lot but i felt i would give this movie a boost on positive ratings because it deserves better than a 6. At minimum it deserves 7.5, but for me i give it a 10. I liked the direction of the movie, scenery, and the storyline. Movies nowadays are so predictable but this one isn't at all. i think the director was clever in the way they made it. It makes you think about the world we live in and i like movies like this that make you think. This movie i totally could not predict it and i usually figure a movie out within 30 minutes of watching it but not this one. You have to watch it all the way thru. The movie has a major twist towards the last 40 minutes of the movie. The way it was kinda marketed i was expecting a horror movie and i decided to watch it just because i couldn't find nothing else and it turned out to be a good little gem. I could see how it could make someone mad if they are expecting a horror movie but this movie is more of a thriller/drama that starts off with what looks like it would be a horror element. They only used the horror element initially to pull you into the movie to pay attention to the story. As you progress thru the movie you realize its has a much deeper storyline. Anyway I say give the movie a chance, this definitely goes down as one of the movies i like enough to add to my collection and i recommend it.

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• The Tall Man rocks... I just adored it...

  julia-lofting2012-06-18

  I won't tell a damn thing about the plot. It'd be criminal. I finally watched the long expected Tall Man in Cannes... Wow... I just can't understand the few reserved US reviews published on the net. This movie is amazingly brilliant. Absolutely not what I had in mind... Laugier surprised me constantly... I found his new work totally original, personal and unique. It's also visually gorgeous!!! By the end of the movie, I was moved, shaken, stunned... I had to think about it a lot... It's still staying in my mind... How many films do that? Definitely from the same french genius who wrote and directed Martyrs. The Tall Man is a whole experience...So don't listen to the few horror fans who didn't get it. The Tall Man is not horror and is not gory... Who cares? It's just a wonderful (and completely twisted) emotional thriller that make you feel and think... Also, you have never seen Jessica Biel that good... Man, I adored this movie... Pascal rocks!

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• brilliant 10/10 from me!

  petra-callaghan2012-11-20

  I absolutely loved this film, the story line is brilliant and Jessica Biel has just become my favourite actress ( this and total recall is one of her best movies) At the beginning you think you have the film all figured out, small town in the middle of nowhere, very poor community, lots of little kids go missing and when Julia's kid goes missing ...well not everything is as it seems and the story twist is absolutely fantastic. Even long long time after the ending credits I couldn't get this film out of my head, I kept asking myself what would I do? what is right and what is wrong? as a mum myself I could see it from both sides, but I guess in the end I had to side with the "tall man". This is for sure one of the best films I have seen in a long time,it kept me glued to the screen the whole time. Some review says the low ratings must be given by women who don't understand the plot - well, I found that bit insulting, I think especially women can understand this movie. I think this is a must see.

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• Loved it

  JenEvans12012-08-01

  I thought this was a great film. There were so many twists that it kept me engrossed from beginning to end. I had read the other reviews so I realised it was not a horror (and it's not)it is more of a psychological thriller, but since I personally prefer suspense type films anyway it was a plus for me! The acting was superb, the characters all believable and as the twists kept coming it just got better and better. If you want to see a good, entertaining thriller with lots of suspense then this is definitely one for you. If you want blood and lots of gore then don't bother. As for me, I loved it.

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