Don't Tell a Soul (film)

Last updated
Don't Tell a Soul
DontTellASoul.jpeg
Official release poster
Directed by Alex McAulay
Written byAlex McAulay
Produced by
  • Chris Mangano
  • Merry-Kay Poe
Starring
CinematographyGuillermo Garza
Edited byBen Baudhuin
Music by Joseph Stephens
Production
companies
  • Mangano Movies & Media
  • Unbridled Film
Distributed by
Release dates
  • September 8, 2020 (2020-09-08)(Deauville)
  • January 15, 2021 (2021-01-15)(United States)
Running time
83 minutes [1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Don't Tell a Soul is a 2020 American thriller film written and directed by Alex McAulay, in his directorial debut. It stars Rainn Wilson as a security guard who gets trapped in a hole chasing two teens (Jack Dylan Grazer and Fionn Whitehead) who stole $12,000, and must barter for his life; Mena Suvari also stars.

Contents

The film had its world premiere at the Deauville Film Festival on September 8, 2020, and was released in the United States on January 15, 2021.

Plot

To support their dying mother Carol, 17-year-old Matt forces his 14-year-old brother Joey to rob a remote home being fumigated. Security guard Dave Hamby chases the two boys through a forest, but falls into an abandoned well. Matt insists on leaving Hamby in the hole so he cannot turn the brothers in to the police. Feeling guilty about leaving the man trapped, Joey regularly visits Hamby to bring him water, food, a sleeping bag, and a walkie-talkie. When he discovers what his brother is doing, Matt urinates on Hamby's head to reassert authority. Incensed when Joey continues bonding with the man, Matt drops an open pesticide canister into the hole to kill Hamby. Joey confronts Matt when he learns his brother used the stolen money meant for their mother to host a motel party. Matt responds by telling partygoers that Joey steals from retired people. Joey retaliates by revealing that Matt killed a man. Matt threatens and beats Joey.

Joey runs back home where Carol's TV news program reveals the man in the well is actually Randy Michael Sadler, a fugitive wanted for murdering his wife and children. Joey returns to the hole and discovers Randy survived the pesticide by wearing the gas mask Joey dropped during the chase. Randy admits he stole a security guard's uniform and was trying to retrieve the stolen money for himself. Joey bargains to rescue Randy from the well in exchange for help punishing Matt. Joey brings Randy home after using a rope to get him out of the hole. Carol recognizes Randy from the news bulletin. Carol is shocked to discover Joey is helping Randy go on the run.

At the same time, Matt reports Joey as the thief to police officers Smith and Crane, who are investigating the initial vandalism; Matt inadvertently implicates himself in the robbery (and knowing Randy was imprisoned in a hole but failed to notify police). Matt accompanies the two officers back to the house where a standoff ensues with Randy. Randy shoots both officers, but Joey stops him from killing them. Randy and Joey then take Matt to the hole in the forest. After forcing Matt into the well, Randy compels Joey to shout angry invectives at his brother. Randy then pushes Joey into the hole. Matt beats Joey unconscious. Randy starts limping away when Carol confronts him at gunpoint. Carol reveals she killed her abusive husband. Following a conversation about her troubled family, Carol shoots Randy dead. Fearing he killed his brother, Matt finally manages to rouse Joey and tearfully apologizes for all he has done. Matt and Joey embrace as Carol comes to their rescue.

Cast

Production

In January 2019, it was announced that Jack Dylan Grazer, Fionn Whitehead, Rainn Wilson and Mena Suvari had joined the cast of the film, with Alex McAulay directing from a screenplay he wrote in his directorial debut. [2]

Reception

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 71% based on 14 reviews, with an average rating of 6.1/10. [3] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 45 out of 100, based on four critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". [4]

Richard Whittaker of The Austin Chronicle wrote, "As for Wilson, he fits effortlessly into this equation as the proxy father upon whom Matt can inflict his one sense of revenge against his late dad, and in whom Joey finds something like parental approval." [5]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Deauville Film Festival on September 8, 2020. [6] It was previously scheduled to premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 23, 2020. [7] However, the festival was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [8] Shortly after, Saban Films acquired North American distribution rights to the film. [9] The film was released on January 15, 2021, in 115 theaters and on VOD by Saban; by the end of its third weekend in release, it had grossed $167,000 theatrically. [10] [11] It was released on DVD and Blu-ray by Lionsgate on March 16, 2021.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mena Suvari</span> American actress (born 1979)

Mena Alexandra Suvari is an American actress, producer, fashion designer and model. After beginning her career as a model and guest-starring on several television shows, she made her film debut in the 1997 black comedy drama Nowhere.

<i>Assimilate</i> 2019 American science fiction horror film

Assimilate is a 2019 American science fiction horror film directed by John Murlowski and starring Joel Courtney, Andi Matichak and Calum Worthy also with Mason McNulty and Cam Gigandet. It is a loose and unofficial adaptation of Jack Finney's 1954 novel The Body Snatchers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex McAulay</span> American writer

Alex McAulay is an American film director and novelist. McAulay is best known for writing and directing the thriller films Don't Tell a Soul and A House on the Bayou.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rainn Wilson</span> American actor, comedian, producer, and writer (born 1966)

Rainn Percival Dietrich Wilson is an American actor, comedian, podcaster, producer, writer, and director — widely known for his role as Dwight Schrute on the NBC sitcom The Office (2005–2013), for which he earned three consecutive Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

<i>Edmond</i> (film) 2005 American drama film

Edmond is a 2005 American thriller film directed by Stuart Gordon and starring William H. Macy, based on the 1982 play Edmond by David Mamet. Mamet also wrote the screenplay for the film. Edmond features Julia Stiles, Rebecca Pidgeon, Denise Richards, Mena Suvari, Joe Mantegna, Bai Ling, Jeffrey Combs, Dylan Walsh and George Wendt in supporting roles. It was screened at several film festivals from September 2005 to May 2006, and had a limited release on July 14, 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Bernard</span> Fictional character on NBCs The Office

Andrew Baines Bernard is a fictional character portrayed by Ed Helms in the NBC comedy television series The Office.

<i>Gardens of the Night</i> 2008 American film

Gardens of the Night is a 2008 American drama film, written and directed by Damian Harris and starring Gillian Jacobs, John Malkovich, Ryan Simpkins, and Tom Arnold.

<i>American Woman</i> (TV series) American TV series or program

American Woman is an American sitcom inspired by the childhood of actress and reality star Kyle Richards that premiered on June 7, 2018, on Paramount Network. The series was created by John Riggi and stars Alicia Silverstone, Mena Suvari, Jennifer Bartels, Makenna James, and Lia McHugh. On September 5, 2018, it was announced that the series had been cancelled after one season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Dylan Grazer</span> American actor (born 2003)

Jack Dylan Grazer is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Eddie Kaspbrak in the horror film It (2017) and its 2019 sequel, Freddy Freeman in the DC Extended Universe film Shazam! (2019) and its 2023 sequel, and voicing Alberto Scorfano in the Pixar animated film Luca (2021). The Hollywood Reporter named him one of the top 30 stars under age 18 in 2018.

<i>Flower</i> (film) 2017 film by Max Winkler

Flower is a 2017 American comedy-drama film directed by Max Winkler, from a screenplay by Alex McAulay, Winkler, and Matt Spicer. It stars Zoey Deutch, Kathryn Hahn, Tim Heidecker, Adam Scott, Joey Morgan, and Dylan Gelula.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fionn Whitehead</span> English actor

Fionn Whitehead is an English actor. He portrayed the lead role in the 2017 film Dunkirk and the 2018 film Black Mirror: Bandersnatch. His first acting credit was in the 2016 ITV miniseries Him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chloë Levine</span> American actress and filmmaker

Chloë Levine is an American actress and filmmaker. Levine has appeared in as well as directed numerous films, both short and feature-length. Her most notable appearances include Innocence (2013), The Transfiguration (2016), The Defenders (2017), The Ranger (2018), Antarctica (2020), and on television in The OA (2016–2019), and Trinkets in 2020.

<i>Brothers by Blood</i> American 2020 crime drama film

Brothers by Blood is a 2020 crime drama film written, directed, and produced by Jeremie Guez, based on the 1991 novel Brotherly Love by Pete Dexter. It stars Matthias Schoenaerts, Joel Kinnaman, Maika Monroe, Paul Schneider, Nicholas Crovetti and Ryan Phillippe.

Stéphane Bak is a French actor and comedian of Congolese origin, born on September 19, 1996, in Villepinte, and raised in the Tilleuls neighborhood in Le Blanc-Mesnil.

<i>The Violent Heart</i> 2020 American drama film

The Violent Heart is a 2020 American drama film written and directed by Kerem Sanga. It stars Jovan Adepo, Grace Van Patten, Lukas Haas, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Cress Williams, Jahi Di'Allo Winston, and Mary J. Blige. The film premiered at the Deauville Film Festival on September 9, 2020, and was released on February 19, 2021 by Gravitas Ventures.

<i>Happily</i> (film) 2021 American film

Happily is a 2021 American comedy thriller film written and directed by BenDavid Grabinski, in his directorial debut. It stars Joel McHale, Kerry Bishé, Stephen Root, Natalie Morales, Paul Scheer and Natalie Zea.

The 2020 Deauville American Film Festival was the 46th edition of the Deauville American Film Festival, held at Deauville, France from September 4 to 13, 2020. The festival was held in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic.

<i>Jerry & Marge Go Large</i> 2022 American film by David Frankel

Jerry & Marge Go Large is a 2022 American comedy-drama film directed by David Frankel and written by Brad Copeland. Based on Jason Fagone's 2018 HuffPost article of the same name, the film, which is based on a true story, stars Bryan Cranston and Annette Bening.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew Helderman</span> American film producer

Matthew Helderman is an American film producer. He is known for his work in 3022, The Pale Door, Cosmic Sin, Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street, and Redemption Day.

Great Expectations is a historical fiction series developed by Steven Knight, based on the novel by Charles Dickens. It premiered on BBC One on 26 March 2023, followed by its US premiere on FX on Hulu later the same day.

References

  1. "Don't Tell a Soul". Tribeca Film Festival . Archived from the original on April 10, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  2. N'Duka, Amanda (January 11, 2019). "Rainn Wilson, Mena Suvari, Fionn Whitehead, Jack Dylan Grazer Topline Don't Tell A Soul Thriller". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  3. "Don't Tell a Soul (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango . Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  4. "Don't Tell A Soul (Metacritic)". Metacritic .
  5. "Don't Tell a Soul (2021) review".
  6. "Don't Tell A Soul". Deauville American Film Festival . Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  7. Goldsmith, Jill (March 3, 2020). "Tribeca Sets Feature Lineup Of Films For 2020 Fest". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  8. Beresford, Tribly; Lewis, Hilary (March 12, 2020). "Tribeca Film Festival Postponed Amid Coronavirus Fears". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  9. N'Duka, Amanda (May 20, 2020). "Saban Films Acquires 'Don't Tell a Soul'; 1091 Picks Up 'The Pollinators' – Film Briefs". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  10. "'Promising Young Woman' Crosses $3M; 'MLK/FBI', 'Don't Tell a Soul', 'Master' Add Coins to Specialty Box Office". 17 January 2021.
  11. "Bleecker Street Drama 'Supernova' Theatrical Debut Warms up Specialty Box Office". 31 January 2021.