Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘The Tall Man’

Written by Scott Edwards

Having someone trustworthy look over your child is one of the most important things for parents. Being able to put your trust in someone to take care of your offspring can be very tedious and altogether a chore. When you are able to find that person, it is a weight off of your shoulders and you feel comfortable about being able to leave your child in the hands of another person, but if that person is trying to make your child’s life better without you around, it can cause problems. As a parent, you are the one that should decide what is best for your kid and even if anyone else around you feel that they can do better, they need to check with you before doing something that could drastically change your child’s life.  

Julia Denning is a nurse living in Cold Rock, Washington. Recently being widowed, she is the only form of health care in the small town as her husband was the only doctor. When the town's mine is closed down, the town is now poverty stricken and the town’s folk are just trying to get by. With a rash of children going missing, it is not of the norm for new parents to move away from their home town to protect their offspring. A rumor has been started around the town that there is one individual behind all of these abductions, and he is called the Tall Man.  

Just knowing that this man lives somewhere in the woods surrounding the town, the kids have set up a little memorial to the child thief. Not being a large town, the police response to the kidnappings is minimal, but Lieutenant Dodd has come into to town to try to resolve the disappearances. Working with Julia, Dodd starts to understand the local lore and while he is investigating, nothing seems to happen. One night, Julia comes home to find her nanny bound and gagged on the floor and a strange intruder is running off with her boy David. With all of her power, Julia tries to get the boy back from the kidnapper and is put to the test both mentally and physically.  

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Being drawn into the woods and having to look the Tall Man memorial in the face, Julia is challenged with what to do next. Locating David in a crazy women’s arms, Julia has to battle with all of her might to get the boy back and is beaten very badly. Getting back into town, she finds refuge in the local diner, but the town’s people have a different plan in mind for her. Seeing a photo of David on a missing child shrine, she knows that her cover is blown, and the town is coming after her instead.  

The Tall Man follows the path of widowed nurse, Julia Denning. As she is the only licensed care giver in the small town of Cold Rock, she is always looking to help out the people of the town, especially the kids. When her boy David is kidnapped from her home, she tries everything within her power to get him back, but when trying to ask for help, the town finds out her little secret. Having to get David to the Tall Man is her first priority and escape comes a distant second as everyone in the town is looking for some sort of resolution for the children that have gone missing over the years. Not willing to back down from her stance and needing to expose what has happened to the children, Lieutenant Dodd has to find a way to bring a sense of closure back to the small town.

An interesting story to say the least. Without knowing the entire background of anyone in the town to start the movie, it is difficult to find out who really is the bad guy. As the story progresses however and you start to notice the lack of the titles of mother and son being used, it becomes obvious what is really happening. With a little bit of action to keep you in your seat, The Tall Man is more focused on telling the story than anything else. Someone that thinks they are doing the right thing by offering a child a better life than you ever could, and does not feel any remorse for what they are doing is scary enough, but when they are willing to go to the ends of the earth to do so, does that make them more of a parent than you are? You will have to watch to find out. Stay Scared.

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