Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- paranoid
- disturbing
- brooding
- late night horror
- dark thriller night
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as an uneven supernatural thriller whose intriguing premise and committed cast were undermined by familiar plotting and limited execution.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Terry experiences flashes of the donor’s final moments after receiving his heart, making organ donation the engine of the mystery.
The donor’s presence deepens in Terry’s mind and body, complicating his choices and sense of self.
Terry’s memory flashes and altered moods blur the boundary between his own experience and the dead donor’s memories.
Terry’s daughter’s illness and his heart transplant unfold alongside his pursuit of the donor’s killers.
Films like Tell-Tale, and why
The Dead Zone
supernatural identity disruption, violent memory transfer, and morally compromised revenge
The Jacket
paranoia thriller atmosphere, bodily transformation, and unsettling science fiction horror
Shallow Grave
organ transplantation, uncanny psychological disturbance, and grim revenge themes
Movie Details
- Director
- Michael Cuesta
- Release Date
- 2009-04-24
- Runtime
- 92 min
- Rating
- 5.3 / 10 (154)
Cast
- Josh Lucas
- Lena Headey
- Brian Cox
- Bea Miller
- Dallas Roberts
- Ulrich Thomsen
- Pablo Schreiber
- Jamie Harrold
- Tom Riis Farrell
- Michael Kenneth Williams
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Tell-Tale about?
- A transplanted heart turns a struggling single father into an unwilling avenger haunted by the dead man whose life now beats inside him.
- What is Tell-Tale like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Tell-Tale as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Tell-Tale violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Tell-Tale as brutal.
- What did critics think of Tell-Tale?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as an uneven supernatural thriller whose intriguing premise and committed cast were undermined by familiar plotting and limited execution.
- Which films are like Tell-Tale?
- Films with a similar feel include The Dead Zone, The Jacket, and Shallow Grave.
- How long is Tell-Tale?
- Tell-Tale runs 92 minutes.
- Where can I watch Tell-Tale?
- In United States, Tell-Tale is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home.
