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The Tutor Review: Noah Schnapp Embraces His Creepy Side

Noah Schnapp embraces his creepy side in his new film, The Tutor, but how does the psychological thriller fare otherwise? Let’s discuss.

The Tutor Movie review

The Tutor Review: Noah Schnapp Embraces His Creepy Side

The Tutor stars Garrett Hedlund and Stranger Things’ Noah Schnapp. It is a mystery. It is a thriller. And it is kind of crazy. This movie is entertaining, and Noah knocks it out of the park with his performance. However, he can only do so much with what he is given. Unfortunately, with an ending that doesn’t feel earned, The Tutor falls a bit too flat for my liking.

Garrett plays a tutor named Ethan, who has to start tutoring a snobby rich kid named Jackson, played by Noah. He is a little weird, and Ethan doesn’t know what’s happening with him. Eventually, he starts to become obsessed with him. It goes so far that Ethan finds pictures of him and his pregnant girlfriend on Jackson’s computer. This is when things start to get twisted. When the third act hits, a huge bomb is dropped.

If I am honest, I was surprised by where things went in the end. But I almost feel like I was only surprised because there wasn’t any setup for it. The ending comes completely out of left field. Perhaps if I were to go back and watch it again, some breadcrumbs or hints would be sprinkled throughout, but I certainly didn’t pick up on any of them. Twist endings can be a lot of fun, but they have to feel like they make sense. This one doesn’t.

That said, Noah is fantastic. I love seeing him in this role — one like we have never seen him do before. His character is very weird, mysterious, and even a little badass. He is easily the standout actor of the film, although Garrett does a great job with what he is given as well. I love the creepiness of Noah and the story, but then Garrett’s character Ethan feels like he was thrown in there. He is a bit underused, especially when considering the movie’s ending. As much as I wish his involvement made sense, it doesn’t.

In general, the big twist plays out well. I was completely shocked, and my mind was blown. The problem is that once I thought about it, it didn’t make sense with the information we had already given in the movie. I needed a little bit more for this to be an earned surprise and an earned ending.

The Tutor is decent for what it is, and if you like a good thriller, it will keep you on your toes. It is dark and dreary, and the ending will leave you with your jaw on the floor. Hopefully, you find that it was a justified ending and fits with the rest of the movie.

The Tutor comes to theaters on March 24th, is rated R, and is a swift 92 minutes long.

Rating: 2 out of 5

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The Tutor Movie Poster

About The Tutor

An in-demand tutor for the East Coast monied elite, Ethan (Garrett Hedlund) lands a high-paying assignment to instruct a billionaire’s son, Jackson (Noah Schnapp), at a remote New York waterfront estate. Almost immediately, Ethan realizes that his student’s interest in his life borders upon obsession.

As tension grows, Jackson’s accusations threaten to expose Ethan’s perceived dark secrets to his girlfriend (Victoria Justice) and the authorities. As sentiment turns against Ethan, it is up to him, and only him, to unearth Jackson’s accusations and prove his innocence.

The Tutor hits theaters on March 24th.