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Don't Say a Word

Don't Say a Word

Thriller · Mystery · Crime · 2001

When the daughter of a psychiatrist is kidnapped, he is horrified to discover that the abductors' demand is that he break through to a young woman, suffering from PTSD, who knows a secret six digit code number.

Movie details

Don't Say a Word

“...I'll never tell.”

2001 Thriller · Mystery · Crime 1h 53m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.3 / 10

Community rating

When the daughter of a psychiatrist is kidnapped, he is horrified to discover that the abductors' demand is that he break through to a young woman, suffering from PTSD, who knows a secret six digit code number.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Don't Say a Word?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Gary Fleder

Written by

Anthony Peckham · Patrick Smith Kelly

Michael Douglas

Michael Douglas

Dr. Nathan Conrad

Sean Bean

Sean Bean

Patrick Koster

Brittany Murphy

Brittany Murphy

Elisabeth Burrows

Skye McCole Bartusiak

Skye McCole Bartusiak

Jessie Conrad

Guy Torry

Guy Torry

Dolen

Jennifer Esposito

Jennifer Esposito

Det. Sandra Cassidy

Famke Janssen

Famke Janssen

Aggie Conrad

Court is in session

Put Don't Say a Word on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Cool Ironist

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.