Don't Say a Word
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: September 28, 2001 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
38
METASCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 32 Critic Reviews
Positive:
9
Mixed:
9
Negative:
14
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
80
Los Angeles TimesKevin Thomas
Smart, stylish and, most important, satisfying. Read full review
80
Village VoiceMichael Atkinson
Fleder's forgettable thriller has a convincing edge, and Douglas remains unchallenged as Hollywood's most tremulous and disquieting dad-under-pressure. Read full review
75
New York Daily NewsJack Mathews
A fairly nifty piece of suspense filmmaking, with a strong if relatively undemanding performance from Douglas. Read full review
70
VarietyTodd McCarthy
Generates tension from the get-go, albeit of an increasingly unpleasant variety, on its way to a disappointingly generic climax. Read full review
67
Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
If there's such a thing as joyless competence, it's exemplified by the grimly sensational kidnap thriller Don't Say a Word. Read full review
67
Austin ChronicleKimberley Jones
Murphy's screentime takes a back seat to Douglas', of course, but from that back seat she makes a very big noise. Read full review
63
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
The movie as a whole looks and occasionally plays better than it is. Read full review
63
Philadelphia InquirerCarrie Rickey
I left the film wondering where at the Bellevue-like psychiatric facility that schizophrenic teenager obtained such a becoming brick-red lipstick. Read full review
63
Chicago TribuneMichael Wilmington
Almost nothing new to offer -- despite its good actors, flashy visuals and well-textured New York gloss and grit. But there are teasing hints of another, better movie buried inside somewhere. Read full review
50
Boston GlobeJay Carr
Don't Say a Word can be thought of as a case of Dial B for Boring.
50
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
The movie has promise as a psychological thriller, but the filmmakers show far more interest in chases and shoot-outs than characters and ideas. Read full review
50
Miami HeraldStaff (Not Credited)
Until it collapses into a pile of contrivances, Don't Say a Word makes for a serviceable, workmanlike thriller. Read full review
50
New York PostLou Lumenick
Heartlessly efficient kidnap thriller. Read full review
50
TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonagh
This by-the-numbers (no pun intended) psychological thrill ride is efficient and utterly soulless. Read full review
42
Seattle Post-IntelligencerWilliam Arnold
The movie is just grindingly by-the-numbers: an uninspired brew of all the clichés of the kidnap-thriller genre, liberally seasoned with brutality, stirred at adrenaline-rush speed by a director with a heavy hand and very little imagination. Read full review
40
Mr. ShowbizKevin Maynard
This is nothing more than one more run-of-the-mill, surprise-free, suspense programmer.
40
Film ThreatMichael Dequina
The oh-so-convenient convergence of plot threads at the climax make the film feel that much more run-of-the-mill. Read full review
40
L.A. WeeklyManohla Dargis
Director Gary Fleder can only fling the camera about and indulge in some familiar screen sadism (and no wonder -- his last feature was "Kiss the Girls") as he tries to squeeze a few thrills from material as desiccated as his leading man. Read full review
38
USA TodayMike Clark
Don't say you weren't warned. There are instant clues that this ill-timed Michael Douglas vehicle is a dually unfortunate viewing experience. Read full review
38
Baltimore SunMichael Sragow
Maybe this is a psychological thriller after all: Every thinking member of the audience will be driven insane. Read full review
38
Charlotte ObserverLawrence Toppman
A miler trying to run a marathon, a fair middleweight idea trying to deliver heavyweight thrills. Read full review
30
Washington PostStephen Hunter
Thankfully, after its terrific start, Don't Say a Word transmogrifies so totally into Hollywood hooey that it's actually a relief. I'd hate to see a disturbance in the karmic perfection of Douglas's pitch-pure mediocrity. Read full review
30
New York Magazine (Vulture)Peter Rainer
You would have to have been born yesterday to miss the switcheroos and reeking red herrings planted in this pulp. Read full review
30
New Times (L.A.)Gregory Weinkauf
Amid a rather routine plot and standard cop-show stylings -- just doesn't add up to much entertainment value. Read full review
30
Chicago ReaderJonathan Rosenbaum
This all-day sucker put me to sleep -- though it's possible I retreated out of self-defense. Read full review
25
Portland OregonianKim Morgan
Maybe if the story weren't so ludicrous we'd care. Or maybe if the film just went overboard with its ludicrousness, we'd be entertained, but Don't Say a Word is merely boring. Read full review
25
San Francisco ChronicleBob Graham
Don't even try to make any sense of this --none of it elicits a moment of genuine concern. Read full review
20
The New York TimesDana Stevens
Confuses an empty and derivative stylistic bravura with formal cleverness, and a sterile, mechanistic sensationalism with emotional intensity. Read full review
20
SlateDavid Edelstein
The movie is a big, noisy mess, with a howler at its center: Overrouged psychiatrist Michael Douglas. Read full review
10
Washington PostDesson Thomson
The movie isn't exactly providing entertaining escape. In fact, the only escape on your mind is going to be the exit door. Read full review
10
SalonCharles Taylor
A stupid, brutal and nonsensical picture. Read full review
10
Wall Street JournalJoe Morgenstern
This noirish, sourish thriller left me unmoving as well as unmoved.
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