The Tutor (2023)

The Tutor has a deliciously nasty hook: a seemingly straightforward job in an isolated, moneyed world that curdles into a psychological chess match, where every polite exchange feels like it could snap into violence. Noah Schnapp brings an unsettling intensity that keeps you watching his eyes as much as his words, and the film knows how to squeeze suspense out of quiet rooms, long hallways, and the sense that someone is always one step ahead. It’s sleek, tense, and enjoyably pulpy in a way that makes the remote manor setting feel like a trap you can’t stop exploring. Fair warning: if you demand airtight plotting, you may notice some rough edges—but if you’re in the mood for a twisty, performance-driven thriller with a sharp, claustrophobic vibe, it’s an easy, gripping watch.

The Tutor is clearly aiming for a sleek, isolated-cat-and-mouse thriller where paranoia builds and secrets spill in a satisfying late-game reveal. The problem is the story often feels like it’s making things up as it goes, so the tension doesn’t land and the big twist comes off more unearned than shocking. A lot of the beats are familiar and the screenplay doesn’t give the characters enough depth to make their choices feel believable, which leaves the whole thing oddly limp for an “action thriller.” If you’re just here for a moody mansion setting and a quick, disposable watch, you might get by, but if you need coherent plotting and a twist that feels properly set up, this probably isn’t for you.