The Secret

Original title: The Tall Man

2012
12
1h 46m

IMDb RATING

5.9/10

44K

YOUR RATING

In an isolated mining town, a nurse and mother goes on a frantic search for her son, David, who might be the newest victim of the Tall Man, a mysterious entity thought by locals to abduct children.

Play trailer1:56

4 Videos

27 Photos

Supernatural Horror Suspense Mystery Crime Drama Horror Mystery Thriller

When her child goes missing, a mother looks to unravel the legend of the Tall Man, an entity who allegedly abducts children.When her child goes missing, a mother looks to unravel the legend of the Tall Man, an entity who allegedly abducts children.When her child goes missing, a mother looks to unravel the legend of the Tall Man, an entity who allegedly abducts children.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.9/10

44K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 6 nominations total

Videos4

The Tall Man: The Diner

Photos26

+ 22

User reviews261

5.944.4K

Featured reviews

7Shopaholic35

Even better than I expected.

This is an absolute gem of a crime thriller. I was a little surprised at first when I watched it because the trailers made it out to seem like a horror movie but nevertheless it was really good. It didn't feel "done before" at all and kept you guessing as to what would happen next. Right in the middle you have this massive OMG didn't see that coming moment and it changes the whole overtone. Sure there were a couple of small flaws but what do you expect from a low budget movie. It didn't need expensive tricks and effects as it instead relied on a strong story and talented cast. Speaking of which, Jessica Biel is such an underrated actress as she does a fantastic job in this movie. She is incredibly believable in the role and really immerses herself in the character.

So ignore all the haters on this one as it has so much to offer. By the end you will realise that this movie is so much more than its synopsis and I promise that you will really enjoy it.

8pabs75-440-765367

great treat for cinema lovers

This is simply an excellent movie. It portrays a good story that is cleverly presented. I would say it's one of those movies to ponder for some time, and that alone is enough reason to watch it. Obviously I have to say that the score here doesn't do it justice at all, but anyway, it seems that many people have lost the eye for a good story. The acting is great, perhaps the best asset of the film. Jessica Biel stands out with her performance, which is intense and totally committed. Her character is nicely built and the twists of the story will not let you down. This is not a classic horror flick, but it doesn't come short of thrills and cliffhanger moments. I particularly like a story that makes room for imagination, the type of films that don't give you everything on a silver plate, and this is one of those movies. I have watched a previous movie by Lugier, 'Martyrs', which I would recommend to people who are always in for extreme emotions, but most importantly, this director is not out to please, but to tell a good story and leave a mark on the viewers. 100% recommended.

5saadgkhan

innovative idea in the end become mushy

The Tall Man – CATCH IT (B-) The Tall Man is a very interesting movie about an an isolated, slowly dying mining town, children are vanishing without a trace - abducted, the townsfolk whisper, by a mysterious entity known locally as "The Tall Man." Town nurse Julia Denning (Jessica Biel) seems skeptical...until her young David disappears in the middle of night. Frantic to rescue the boy, Julia lives every parent's darkest nightmare in this twisting, shock-around-each-corner thriller. The First half of the movie is really enjoyable as it's a complete thriller about a town, a woman, missing children and tall man. But once the shocking revelation was made after 50mints the movie becomes more of a social message than a thriller till the end. This doesn't goes in favor of the movie because maybe it's the biggest cover up in the town we still want some chilling running from the evil. Jessica Beil is great and perfect for her role but the twist they have in the movie only works if the woman is as strong as Jessica Beil. On the whole, it's a good thriller in first half and an okay movie in the second part.

6bowmanblue

Know what you're getting

Tall Man has come in for a fait of criticism from people expecting one thing and getting another. If you've seen (Director) Pascal Laugier's previous film 'Martyrs' then you may be a little more prepared for a film that deliberately leads you in one direction, only to almost switch genres midway through and go off in a totally different direction.

Tall Man is about a woman (Jessica Biel) whose child goes missing in a town where this sort of kidnapping is commonplace and put down to the legend of the 'Tall Man' - a shadowy figure who steals children. From there, she has to unravel the mystery behind the kidnappings.

Most people (including me) expected a straight horror film. What it turns out to be is more than that. Perhaps 'thriller' would describe it better. Everyone turns in a solid performance and, if you're in the mood for something a little different, with a few twists and turns, then you could do worse than this.

Just know that this isn't simply your average 'horror.'

7SnoopyStyle

good functional horror turn into a real head scratcher

The first half of this movie is a simple but good horror with a good action climax of a mother Jessica Biel trying to catch a kidnapper. Then something happens and all the first half needs to be re-examined. I won't spoil the twist. Needless to say, I didn't know anything ahead of time and all possible explanations are opened when it happened. I'm sure many people will have a good argument about its morality. I'm not going to do that as much as it's an usual twist that caught me completely by surprise. Definitely a should see, but don't read too far ahead. Let it unfold. It's not so simple. Sometimes a movie can do more than paint by numbers.

Trivia
Inspired by the legend of Slenderman, which itself eventually spawned its own film, Slender Man (2018).

Goofs
The film is supposed to be set in Washington State. However, in the beginning a train is shown crossing in front of the town and the crossing reads "RAILWAY CROSSING." In the United States, all rail crossings are labeled "RAILROAD CROSSING." The film was obviously made in Canada. Also, the train is a Canadian Pacific locomotive.

Quotes
Julia Denning: The system is broken. It doesn't work. There's no where to turn, no support. I've seen it all over the world, it's just easier to give up. I'm not any better than you, Mrs. Johnson, I've just seen more. It's not a matter of being a good person or being a bad person, it's about how you cope. We're so limited. But the eyes of every child are filled with potential and hope, and we should embrace and nourish that potential, but we don't, and we continue to make the same mistakes, and we continue to let the children grow up broken and lost, just like their parents. We have to break the cycle. It has to be a priority, but it's not. That's what I've been trying to do. That's what I've done everywhere. And what did I change? Nothing. Yes, I cared, I helped, I cuddled, thinking I was bringing change, thinking I was making a difference, but when we asked for real change, all these bureaucrats said, "No, you can't do that. There's a process." Every time we questioned the politicians, and the system that makes poor people poorer, and the children suffer, they said, "No, you can't do that. There's a process." So the cycle goes on, and goes on and goes on, and the children continue to suffer, and no one does anything about it, and the world will never change.