The Tall Man (2012)
Brief review: Don't get mislead by the seemingly hackneyed premise, because" Martyrs" director Pascal Laugier's first-ever English-language feature film, "The Tall Man", is like nothing what you’d expect at all. The first half may be fairly clichéd and pretty straightforward, but that’s just part of Laugier’s clever plan. He wants to mess with your head and leave you with the impression that this is yet another generic horror film about an unknown stranger kidnapping little kids, then halfway through, he throws a curveball that makes you realize nothing in this film is what it seems. From that turning point on, "The Tall Man" starts to play more and more tricks with your mind, right until the very end, when everything falls into place and begins to make perfect sense. "The Tall Man" is definitely not your average kidnapping movie, but something much more than that—it’s unsettling in its realism, intelligent in its approach and profoundly genius in its slick execution. The isolated setting and gloomy cinematography match with the mysterious tone of the film, and Pascal Laugier’s capable direction successfully maintains the intensity of the story. Jessica Biel gives a solid “comeback” performance as the caring, yet shifty town nurse, the oddly adorable Jodelle Ferland makes the film even more engaging than it already is, Stephen McHattie is great as the police detective, Lt. Dodd, and the supporting cast do their best.
Overall summary: It’s no "Martyrs", but Laugier’s latest shocker, "The Tall Man", is still a thought-provoking, deeply disturbing and strangely captivating horror thriller with a great message, filled with mind-boggling twists and turns, that will haunt you long after the credits roll.
Read (and comment on) the extended version of my "Tall Man" review, written exclusively for White Cat Magazine HERE.
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