The Telltale Heart

The Telltale Heart

Directed by Leon Shamroy, Charles Klein

Produced by Klein & Shamroy

192824 min6.7 / 10

A claustrophobic psychological horror that traps us inside a murderer's deteriorating mind as guilt and paranoia consume him.

An insane man first loves then grows to hate his neighbor, an old man whose penetrating gaze unnerves the insane man. He plans a perfect crime and executes it one night. The next day, two officers knock on the insane man's door, investigating a shriek heard in the night. The insane man invites them in, answers their questions, and submits to an examination of his eyes by one of the officers, who proclaims him innocent. The insane man invites them to stay and relax awhile, then regales them with his theories of crime. His heart begins to beat louder. Angles on the set are skewed to suggest the man's internal disarray.

Questions people ask

  • Does The Telltale Heart end with hope? No. Less hopeful than 98% of films.

  • Is The Telltale Heart scary? Yes, very. More frightening than 94% of films.

  • Is The Telltale Heart easy watching? No. Less comforting than 92% of films.

  • Is The Telltale Heart sad? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.

  • Is The Telltale Heart violent? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

59/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

Familiar shape, done well.

Rarity95

How unlike any other film this one feels

Surprise34

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love55

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Like The Telltale Heart

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as The Telltale Heart

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like The Telltale Heart, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like The Telltale Heart, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like The Telltale Heart, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

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