Tell No One

Plot

Alexandre Beck is a doctor who has slowly been putting his life back together after his wife Margot was murdered by a serial killer. Eight years on, Alex is doing well, until he finds himself implicated in a double homicide, which has plenty of evidence pointing to him as the killer – though he knows nothing of the crimes. The same day, Alex receives an e-mail that appears to be from Margot, which includes a link to a surveillance video clip that features his late wife looking alive and well. The message warns Alex that they are both being watched. He struggles to stay one step ahead of the law, while a gang of henchmen intimidate Alexs friends into telling them whatever they might know about him – the henchmen eventually kill one of them, Charlotte. In the meantime, Alexs sister Anne persuades her well-off wife Helene to hire a respected attorney, Elisabeth Feldman, to handle Alexs case.

It is gradually revealed that Margot is apparently still alive. She attempts to arrange a meeting with Alex by sending him an email which he must read in an internet cafe to avoid being spied on. Before this meeting, a warrant is issued for Alexs arrest for the murder of Charlotte. He goes on the run whilst his friends and lawyers struggle to find out the truth about the murder, as well as Margots reappearance. Alex, chased by policemen, is rescued by Bruno, a gangster from a rough part of the city who feels he owes Alex a favor. The mysterious henchmen reappear to prevent Alexs meeting with his wife, but he is rescued once again by Bruno. Margot is seen almost escaping on a flight to Buenos Aires. Elizabeth, the lawyer, proves that Alex has an alibi for the murder of Charlotte, thanks to eyewitness accounts at the internet cafe.

Alex noted the numerous mysteries about his wifes death – mysterious photos of her covered in bruises and traces of heroin in her body. He soon discovers the truth that Margots father faked his daughters death. Margot had discovered that Philippe Neuville, the rich young son of a local aristocrat, was a pedophile rapist whose activities were being hidden because his father had influence over the police; when she confronted him, Philippe beat her up, causing the bruises. Her father explains that he walked in on the beating and shot Philippe. The elder Neuville hired thugs to kill Margot. Margots father knew this because he tapped the phone call, so he doubled the payout for one of the thugs to fake Margots murder instead, kill the other thug, and knock out Alex in the process. Margots father then shot the second thug and buried both, then used the body of a dead heroin addict to stand in for Margots.

Police, listening in on the fathers confession, attempt to arrest him. Margots father shoots himself dead before he can be arrested.

It is revealed that Margots father knew Alex was wearing a wire, and that during a moment in which he had blocked the bugs transmission he had told Alex one last thing: it was in fact Margot who shot Philippe after he beat her; her father was covering up her crime, not his. His actions have ensured that she will never be suspected. Finallly Philippes father is arrested, and Alex and Margot reunite at the lake where they fell in love as children.

Production

The script made several alterations to the book; a torture expert changed from an Asian male to a white female, and the identity of the killer was switched. The books author was quoted in an interview as saying that the films ending was better than his original ending.

Reception

Tell No One was well received both critically and commercially.

Academy Award-winning British actor Michael Caine said of the film it was the best he had seen in 2007 on the BBCs Film 2007 programme. He also included it among his Top Ten movies of all time in his 2010 autobiography, The Elephant to Hollywood.

Critical response

Rotten Tomatoes gives Tell No One a "Certified Fresh" rating of 94% based on reviews from 104 critics. Metacritic give the film 82/100 based on reviews from 30 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".

Box office

The film generated $17 million in ticket sales during its first four weeks at the French box office. In total the film grossed $22,194,261 in France becoming the 12th highest grossing film of the year with 3,111,809 tickets sold. Music Box Films acquired the rights to the film and gave it a limited theatrical release on July 2, 2008. The film opened in 8 theaters grossing $169,707 it.s opening weekend. In total the film played at a mixmium of 112 theaters and grossed $6,177,192 in North America.

Top ten lists

The film appeared on many critics top ten lists of the best films of 2008.

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