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The Truth

The Truth

The truth... Is always complicated.

201096 minNot RatedMidcredits score: 12th percentile of all films
Director
Ryan Barton-Grimley
Starring
John Heard, Brendan Sexton III, Erin Cardillo, Daniel Baldwin

When a couple is taken hostage in their home by an intruder, a simple home invasion robbery turns into something much more complicated...

Where to watch

Where can I watch The Truth?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists The Truth streaming on Tubi (free) and to rent or buy on Apple TV.

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Free

Your rating, lists and review

Reception

Is The Truth worth watching?

The Truth's Midcredits score is the 12th percentile of all films, from 1.4K ratings across 3 sources. 23% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

12th percentile

Better received than 12% of films

26th percentile among Thriller13th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)15th
Approval (how many liked it)12th

49 /100

15th percentile of all films

32nd percentile among Thriller17th percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

The crowd leans negative, with most ratings sitting in the bottom half of the scale.

Approval

How many liked it

23% liked it

12th percentile of all films

27th percentile among Thriller12th percentile among 2010s
23% rated it 7–1077% rated it 1–6

42nd percentile

1.4K ratings across platforms

64th percentile among Thriller46th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 18% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$2.5M

What reviewers say

Common ground

A low-budget home-invasion thriller with twists and secrets.

Fans praised

  • suspenseful and engaging despite low budget
  • solid performances from Heard and Sexton
  • clever script with layered secrets

Detractors panned

  • terrible acting, especially from Cardillo
  • cheap and amateurish production values
  • tedious pacing with repetitive talk-and-punch scenes

What stands out

TensionDivisive55

engaging for fans, flat for detractors

Plot and storyDivisive50

twisty but derivative home-invasion formula

EndingDivisive50

some praise the reveal, others find it lacking or confusing

PacingDivisive40

keeps interest for some, feels slow for others

Emotional impactDivisive40

some cringe and concern, but not deeply moving

ActingDivisive35

praised in spots but widely panned as poor or amateur

DialogueDivisive35

criticized as stilted or cringeworthy

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • US vs non-US 1 point apart

Watch experience

What is The Truth like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Scary: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you are ready to pay close attention and feel heavy feelings, and you want to be scared.

It is intense and leaves you unsettled. Skip it when you want an easy night or you can only half-watch.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Your full attention, room for heavy feelings and a taste for open questions.

What it feels like

Scary.

The answer rests on this: Moods
TenseDreadMelancholic
Heaviest: throughout
Register
Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.Brutal · 7% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Single location · 5% of films: Confined to essentially one place throughout.Nonlinear · 6% of films: Events shown out of chronological order.
TonePlays its dark thriller material straight, without irony, building tension through revelations.
The rideThe sustained pressure of the hostage situation and the gradual revelation of secrets keeps the tone tense and heavy from start to finish.
StructurePredominantly a single-night thriller in one location, using flashbacks to reveal secrets.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Unsettled.

UnsettlingHaunting · 14% of films
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves a dark, unresolved feeling about the truths that surface and the characters' fates.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous endingTwist

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterPredator
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21% (this title): Predator 6% (this title) · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Predator: A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).

21% of films fit this archetype

with Mystery underneath

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeA home-invasion hostage thriller where a mysterious intruder forces hidden truths to surface, blending predator and mystery structures.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfTruthIdeas
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% (this title) · Deception 9% (this title)
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5% (this title): Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% (this title) · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Ideas

Truth · 4% of filmsDeception · 9% of filmsBetrayal · 5% of films
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe film is built around hidden truths that unravel trust and relationships.
StanceThe film probes the couple's relationship and the nature of truth without offering a clear moral judgment.

The world

ContemporaryDomesticRealistic
AmbientElectronicSupportive music · original score · Adrien Capozzi
Settinga glamorous mansion over a single night
MusicThe score likely underscores the mounting tension with low-key ambient cues.

Content guide

Is The Truth okay for kids?

Not Rated

The Truth is not rated. As of August 31, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (67/100), sexual content at moderate (52/100) and frightening material at severe (100/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Ratings in 1 other country
  • Germany16
Overall
Intense · 3 of 5 categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Intense
too few votes to rank (2 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Moderate
too few votes to rank (9 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Severe
too few votes to rank (1 vote)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (12 votes across 3 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does The Truth have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in The Truth?

Cast

John Heard
as Jonathan(Robert)
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Brendan Sexton III
as Gabriel
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Erin Cardillo
as Dana(Christina)
First film: No prior film role; they had worked in television.
Daniel Baldwin
as Gabriel's Father
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Erica Shaffer
as Gabriel's Mother
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Carter MacIntyre
as Jonathan
First film: No prior film role; they had worked in television.
Chic Daniel
as Veteran Cop
A.J. Gordon
as Valet Driver
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Noah Matthews
as Newspaper boy
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Jacob Ochsner
as Gabriel

Crew

More like this

What are movies like The Truth?

Movies like The Truth include Pet (2016), The Hidden Face (2011) and Hard Candy (2005). Of the 11 closest matches, most are captor-and-captive stories, and most are films set in Los Angeles.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

9 of these 11 share its feel: brooding. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with The Truth?

304 other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: home invasion. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.