Don't Tell a Soul

In a desperate effort to care for their terminally ill mother, 17-year-old Matt (Fionn Whitehead) coerces his 14-year-old brother Joey into participating in a daring robbery at an isolated property undergoing fumigation. Their risky venture takes an unanticipated twist when security guard Dave Hamby (Rainn Wilson) chases them into the woods, only to fall into an abandoned well. As Joey grapples with guilt for leaving the hurt guard behind, Matt is adamant about not helping Dave, fearing he might expose their criminal actions. Yet, Joey secretly brings Dave essential supplies and a makeshift communication device, revealing their strained brotherly bond as Joey becomes uneasy with Matt’s reckless decisions.

Tensions escalate when Matt attempts to assert his authority by urinating on Dave’s incapacitated body, provoking Joey’s furious backlash. This clash hints at darker troubles ahead: Matt decides to spend the stolen money intended for their mother’s care on a lavish motel party, only to further betray Joey by spreading false accusations that he has been stealing from elderly individuals. In retaliation, Joey exposes a chilling secret—Matt’s connection to another man’s death.

As the brothers’ conflict intensifies, Joey runs away, only to be confronted on their mother’s news program with a shocking revelation: the man in the well is none other than Randy Michael Sadler, a notorious fugitive wanted for murdering his family. When Joey returns to the well, he discovers that Randy has survived the pesticide canister’s lethal fumes by wearing a gas mask from earlier in the chase. Randy, claiming he was trying to retrieve stolen money while masquerading as a security guard, offers Joey an unsettling deal—help him out of the well in exchange for vengeance against Matt.

With Randy now hiding in their home, Carol (Mena Suvari), their mother, recognizes her new houseguest from the news, leading to dismay as she realizes Joey is assisting a fugitive. The already complicated dynamics between the brothers worsen as Matt becomes suspicious of Joey’s actions. His paranoia leads him to report Joey to Officer Smith (Richard Fike) and Officer Crane (Abigail Esmena), who are still reeling from the initial vandalism. In a series of revealing missteps, Matt unintentionally exposes his own guilt in the robbery, including his prior knowledge of Randy’s predicament.

The confrontation escalates into a standoff between Matt and Randy, with Joey trying to mediate as the officers find themselves caught in a violent exchange. In a remarkable act of bravery, Joey restrains Randy, allowing both police officers to escape danger. As the story unfolds, Randy takes Joey and Matt into the forest, forcing Matt into the very well that had confined Randy. In a heart-wrenching scene, Randy compels Joey to hurl angry accusations at his brother before cruelly pushing him into the depths of the hole.

Guilt and regret overwhelming him, Matt savagely beats an unconscious Joey in a futile attempt to confront the turmoil that has engulfed their lives. Meanwhile, Carol arrives, gun drawn and focused on Randy. Maintaining composure, she unveils her own troubled history, revealing how she avenged her abusive husband with a bullet.

As the intensity escalates between Carol and Randy, Matt manages to revive Joey, pouring out tearful apologies for his myriad mistakes. In a moment of heartfelt reconciliation, the brothers embrace, while Carol brings the tragic sequence of events to a close, her weapon still trained on Randy’s lifeless figure.

Last Updated: November 21, 2024 at 10:01