THE TELL TALE HEART

Short, Horror, Thriller, Psychological

United States

2020

Runtime, min

Adapted from Edgar Allan Poe’s original text, this psychological thriller has been reimagined in this mind-bending, pulse-pounding, bloody-disgusting short film. In “The Tell Tale Heart,” directed by McClain Lindquist, the Narrator (Sonny Grimsley) descends into madness as he is haunted by the “evil eye” of the Old Man (James C. Morris). The Narrator murders the Old Man in his bed and hides his body under the floorboards. The Narrator’s frail mind begins to unravel when Detective Tucker (Teren Turner) and Officer Sharpe (Mikah Olsen) come to inquire about the Old Man’s whereabouts.

Director:

McClain Lindquist

Selections and Awards:

Indie Shorts Film Festival Orlando Best Horror - Best Short - Best Director - Best Actor. United States Hollywood Blood Horror Festival Hollywood, California Best Horror - Best New Director - Best Producer United States PEEPHOLE filmfest Guadalajara. Best Horror Short Mexico

PRESS-KIT

REVIEWS:

The director nailed the Gothic horror spirit and turned it into pure cinema rather than theater. The short format works flawlessly.

Sofia Ruiz Garcia

I felt actual fear when he started smiling. It’s like looking straight into the abyss of a human soul.

Hugo Gessaga

This is the most accurate visualization of The Tell-Tale Heart I’ve ever seen. Everything from diction to pacing feels like Poe brought to life.

Angel Porcar

The film captures the madness and guilt so vividly it feels like you can hear the heart beating beneath the floorboards yourself. A brilliant modern visual take on Poe’s classic.

Phil Dadson

The psychological tension here beats half of the feature-length thrillers out there. The ending is absolutely mind-blowing.

Marta Torres Garcia

The lighting and color mirror the character’s descent, warm insanity giving way to cold guilt. A cinematographic masterpiece.

Emily Turner

Just the right amount of blood to send chills down your spine without losing the psychological edge. And that stare pure evil!

Cristina Forero

It’s rare to see Poe treated with such care. The atmosphere of Victorian dread and internal madness is perfectly recreated.

Sophia Martinez