The tutor movie review 2023

Garrett Hedlund’s onscreen presence is a subject of ambivalence for many, but even his most ardent detractors will likely find themselves sympathizing with the actor as they slog through “The Tutor.” Directed by Jordan Ross and written by Ryan King, the film is a thriller that lacks any real sense of consequence or intrigue.

The movie opens with a low-angle shot of the gates of a stately manse, setting up a tone of foreboding that’s never really delivered upon. We are then introduced to Hedlund’s character, Ethan, a tutor who works with the snotty children of the wealthy. The film takes great pains to establish that Ethan is a vinyl enthusiast who’s expecting a child out of wedlock with his pregnant girlfriend, Annie (Victoria Justice). Despite these superficial attempts to flesh out his character, Ethan remains a cipher, a problem that is compounded by Hedlund’s wooden performance.

Ethan’s fortunes take a turn for the better when he’s offered a lucrative gig tutoring a wealthy boy, Jackson (Noah Schnapp), out on Long Island. But it quickly becomes apparent that something is off about the whole situation. Jackson is a strange kid, with an almost robotic bearing and an unsettling amount of knowledge about Ethan’s personal life. Ethan’s suspicions are confirmed when he discovers that Jackson has pictures of him and Annie on his computer.

This is where a more competent movie might have taken a turn for the interesting. Ethan would have immediately reported the situation to his boss and the authorities and fled the scene. But in “The Tutor,” Ethan sticks around, hoping to unravel the mystery of Jackson and his wealthy family. This leads to a string of bizarre encounters with a cast of shady characters, including Jonny Weston as Jackson’s sleazy cousin and an oily man who may or may not be Jackson’s father.

As the plot unfolds, we learn more about Ethan’s troubled past, including issues with his father, alcoholism, and a strange connection to Jackson. But these revelations never really pay off, and the film’s many twists and turns feel far-fetched and unconvincing. The script borrows heavily from the works of Alfred Hitchcock and Claude Chabrol, but it lacks the finesse and nuance of those masters of the genre.

Director Jordan Ross does little to inject any energy or tension into the proceedings. There are a few stylistic flourishes here and there, such as an early shot of a convex mirror that recalls Joseph Losey’s “The Servant,” but these moments feel like empty gestures. Ross seems content to let the movie plod along without any real sense of urgency or purpose.

The one bright spot in “The Tutor” is the performance of Noah Schnapp as Jackson. Despite the limitations of the script, Schnapp manages to bring an eerie intensity to his role that makes him a genuinely unsettling presence. But even his efforts can’t salvage a movie that feels like a waste of everyone’s time.

In conclusion, “The Tutor” is a forgettable thriller that fails to deliver on its promises. The script is undercooked, the direction lacks energy, and the performances are wooden. Even fans of the genre will likely find little to recommend here. If you’re looking for a tense and engaging thriller, look elsewhere.

Other type review for subscribers in below

Jordan Ross’ “The Tutor” is a thriller film that unfortunately falls short in both plot and execution. The film stars Garrett Hedlund as Ethan, a tutor who gets hired to teach Jackson, played by Noah Schnapp. However, things take a turn for the worse when Ethan discovers that Jackson has pictures of him and his pregnant girlfriend, Annie (played by Victoria Justice), on his computer.

The film opens with a montage of Ethan teaching various snotty children of privilege. While he gives as good as he gets to his charges, it’s clear that he’s a sharp guy with a bit of an edge. We also learn that he’s a vinyl guy who’s starting a family with Annie without the benefit of clergy. This fact is mentioned so frequently that it becomes tiresome and one wonders if the story has uncredited source material from 1905.

Ethan’s colleague hooks him up with a lucrative tutoring assignment out in Long Island, where he’ll be paid $2500 a day to hone the test skills of Jackson, a strange and robotic kid who knows a lot about Ethan. Ethan quickly realizes that something is off about the whole setup, especially when Jackson’s older cousin offers him $5,000 to cancel a session. Things only get weirder when Ethan discovers that Jackson has pictures of him and Annie on his computer.

At this point, a properly developed story would have Ethan speak to his office and the authorities and get out of dodge. However, that doesn’t happen in “The Tutor.” Instead, Ethan sticks around, meets another suspicious character who may or may not be Jackson’s father, gets fired from the tutoring gig, looks for work in the service industry, and gets accused of crimes he didn’t commit. As all of this unfolds, Ethan’s personal issues—daddy, booze, and a bizarre connection to Jackson from his past—are revealed.

The film’s plot twists feel far-fetched on both logistical and psychological levels, and they’re not that interesting. The direction by Jordan Ross is lackluster, with minimal energy throughout. There’s a shot early on of a convex mirror that seems like it might be setting up some kind of character dynamic, but it serves no purpose. While Hedlund’s character eventually descends into a dissolute puddle, there’s no payoff for the viewer’s investment of time.

Ultimately, “The Tutor” is an inconsequential and forgettable thriller that fails to deliver on its promise. Garrett Hedlund and Victoria Justice do their best with the material they’re given, but the screenplay could have used a few more drafts or, better yet, complete abandonment. Unless you’re a die-hard fan of one of the actors involved, it’s best to skip “The Tutor” and look for better options at the box office.