Review: The Skeptic (2009)

[Steve Rhodes]

THE SKEPTIC
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2009 Steve Rhodes

RATING (0 TO ****):  ***

"Forty-six percent of people believe in ghosts," a psyche named Cassie tells 
Bryan Becket (Tim Daly, Dr.  Pete Wilder from "Private Practice.")  Not 
impressed with her logic, Bryan replies that "Forty-six percent of people 
can't find Europe on a map!"

THE SKEPTIC takes a serious, but light-hearted as well, look at what happens 
when a guy inherits a haunted house.  The film is smart enough to keep us 
guessing as to what is really going on.  Maybe, for example, Cassie is just 
part of some scam being run on Bryan.

And, since Cassie is played by the gorgeous Zoe Saldana, who seems to 
specialize in sexually charged roles, having worked on movies such as AFTER 
SEX, WAYS OF THE FLESH, DIRTY DEEDS and TEMPTATION as well as higher profile 
movies like VANTAGE POINT, maybe the movie will turn into FATAL ATTRACTION. 
The possibilities are endless, which writer and director Tennyson Bardwell 
mines to equal measures of comedic effect and shock value.

Breezy and fun, the movie has a great cast, which strikes just the right 
balance between being funny and creepy, with the tilt more towards the 
humorous side.

When we meet Bryan, he is a card-carrying skeptic.  A completely unemotional 
guy, "I'm a guy," he tells his law partner -- and comedic sidekick -- Sully 
(Tom Arnold).  "I haven't cried since I left Cooperstown."

Soon after Bryan starts to live temporarily in the old, rambling Victorian 
house that his aunt left him, he starts hearing things.  Eventually he goes 
to a research lab specializing in studying paranormal phenomenon.  As easily 
the film's best character, Bruce Altman plays Dr. Koven.  As the head of the 
lab, Dr. Koven is a firm believer that everything can be explained with 
science, right down to ghosts talking.  The sounds don't come from ghosts, 
since ghosts don't exist, the doctor says.  He then goes on to describe how 
supposed ghostly sights or sounds can be explained away with quite rational, 
scientific explanations.

It is at Dr. Koven's lab where Bryan meets Cassie.  In no time, she has come 
to Bryan's haunted house to help him.  But is having her there like throwing 
fuel on a fire?  After the first night that Bryan and Cassie spend in the 
house, he tells her, "I slept like a baby -- a baby fearing crib death that 
is."

THE SKEPTIC is a nice little treat that isn't scary enough to affect your 
sleep, but it will affect your demeanor, as you leave the theater happily 
satisfied that you were well entertained.

THE SKEPTIC runs 1:35.

The film is being shown as part of San Jose's Cinequest Film Festival 
(www.Cinequest.org), which runs February 25-March 8, 2009.

Web: http://www.InternetReviews.com
Email: Steve.Rhodes at InternetReviews.com

***********************************************************************

Want reviews of new films via Email?
Just write Steve.Rhodes at InternetReviews.com and put "subscribe" in the 
subject line.