The Skeptic is a 2009 American horror film written and directed by Tennyson Bardwell.

Starring Tim Daly, Zoe Saldana, and Tom Arnold, and featuring Robert Prosky and Edward Hermann, it depicts the story of an attorney who inherits a seemingly haunted house, though he does not believe in the supernatural.

Written in the 1980s, the film was shot in upstate New York from late 2005 through 2006. Completed in 2008, it was screened at the Cannes Film Festival before being purchased by IFC Films for airing on their video on demand channel as well as a limited theatrical release.

The film received poor reviews and was criticised for its lack of suspense, poor acting and dialog, and for being reminiscent of 1970s television horror films.

Plot
Lawyer Bryan Becket (Tim Daly) moves into his late aunt’s reputedly haunted Victorian mansion after her passing.

Becket does not believe in supernatural events, and continually ignores signs that the home really is haunted, while trying to explore the connection he feels to the house. His partner in the firm, Sully (Tom Arnold), does believe in the supernatural, and tries to warn Becket that something is wrong about the house.

As the haunting turns more personal, Beckett is unable to ignore it any longer and begins doubting his own sanity. He seeks help from a scientist (Bruce Altman), a psychiatrist (Edward Herrmann), and a priest (Robert Prosky), unaware that they all know more about him and the house than they are telling him.

Eventually, he turns to a psychic named Cassie (Zoe Saldana), who quickly determines there is a “very bad secret” in the house. Together, they try to learn what this secret is, while dealing with repressed memories from Becket’s childhood.

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Directed by Tennyson Bardwell
Produced by
Tennyson Bardwell
Isen Robbins
Aimee Schoof
Mary-Beth Taylor
Written by Tennyson Bardwel

Cast
* Tim Daly as Bryan Becket
* Tom Arnold as Sully
* Zoe Saldana as Cassie
* Andrea Roth as Robin Becket
* Edward Herrmann as Shepard
* Robert Prosky as Father Wymond
* Bruce Altman as Koven
* Lea Coco as Deputy
* Sara Weaver as Helena Beckett
* L.J. Foley as Young Becket
* Paul Tietjen as Michael

Music by Brett Rosenberg
Cinematography Claudio Rocha
Editing by Ann Marie Lizzi
Distributed by IFC Films
Release date(s) May 1, 2009
Running time 89 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Gross revenue $1,553 (domestic)