🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Dean Devlin
- Genre: Thriller, Crime, Horror, Drama
- Release year: 2018
- Runtime (length): 1h 50min
- IMDb rating: 6.3/10 (27k votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 52%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
A valet parking attendant accidentally interrupts a rich guy’s hobby of collecting people, and things get *really* awkward over Yelp reviews.
🍿 Bad Samaritan: Detailed Plot Synopsis
Valet Burglary Scheme
Sean Falco and Derek Sandoval work as valets at an upscale restaurant in Portland. They supplement their income by using customer’s cars to locate and burglarize their homes while they dine. This scheme works smoothly until they target the wrong person.

Discovery and Initial Confrontation
Sean targets Cale Erendreich, a wealthy and arrogant patron. While burglarizing Cale’s house, Sean discovers a woman, Katie, chained and gagged in a hidden room. Disturbed, Sean attempts to free her but is interrupted by Cale’s early return, forcing him to flee. He calls the police anonymously, but Cale manages to deceive them, triggering a dangerous game.

Cale’s Retaliation
Cale, now aware of Sean’s intrusion, begins a calculated campaign to destroy Sean’s life. He uses his wealth and resources to sabotage Sean’s relationships, career, and reputation, turning everyone against him. The situation escalates as Cale’s actions become increasingly violent and destructive.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Sean Falco (Robert Sheehan): A small-time burglar and valet who discovers a captive and becomes the target of a wealthy psychopath.
- Cale Erendreich (David Tennant): A wealthy, sadistic psychopath who enjoys tormenting and controlling his victims.
- Katie (Kerry Condon): A woman held captive by Cale, desperately seeking to escape her horrifying ordeal.
- Derek Sandoval (Carlito Olivero): Sean’s best friend and partner in crime, who gets caught up in the deadly game.
- Riley Seabrook (Jacqueline Byers): Sean’s girlfriend whose life is endangered due to her association with him.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Sean Falco: “You… are fucking crazy! You know that… right?” – Sean expresses his disbelief and fear when he understands the extent of Cale’s madness and the danger he poses.
- Cale Erendreich: “No… no… no. Because crazy people get caught.” – Cale dismisses being called crazy, implying his meticulous planning and control prevent him from being apprehended.
💰Box Office
- Budget: $9,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $3,435,047
- Worldwide Gross: $4,623,836
💥 Bad Samaritan Reviews
Personal Review
I went into this movie expecting a mindless thriller and honestly, I got exactly that! David Tennant is deliciously evil. While the plot is definitely far-fetched, I found myself completely engrossed in Sean’s struggle. The scene where Riley is attacked was brutal and honestly made me furious at Cale. It’s a fun popcorn flick if you can suspend your disbelief.
- Who would enjoy:
- “Fans of psychological thrillers”
- “Viewers who enjoy cat-and-mouse suspense stories”
- “David Tennant fans”
- “Those who appreciate films with a dark and disturbing tone”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Violence”
- “Torture”
- “Strong Language”
- “Brief Nudity”
- “Drug Use”
- “Disturbing Themes”
Professional Reviews
- Rotten Tomatoes: “While David Tennant is clearly having fun, ‘Bad Samaritan’ is undone by its reliance on predictable thriller tropes and a script that strains credulity.
- Los Angeles Times: “David Tennant shines as the villain. However, the film as a whole relies too heavily on tired thriller conventions, making it a forgettable experience overall.
Audience Reactions
David Tennant’s portrayal of the villain is captivating and unsettling.: Viewers generally agree that Tennant’s performance is the highlight, elevating what could have been a generic thriller.
Overall Consensus: A decent thriller with a strong villainous performance from David Tennant, but ultimately hampered by a predictable plot and some questionable writing choices.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “Dean Devlin, known for producing action-packed blockbusters, took on a more thriller-oriented direction with ‘Bad Samaritan.'”
- “The film explores themes of social media intrusion and the potential for technology to be used for malicious purposes.”
- “David Tennant’s performance as the antagonist was praised for its chilling portrayal of a manipulative psychopath.”
🖥️ How to Watch Bad Samaritan?
As of October 2024, ‘Bad Samaritan’ is available for rent or purchase on various platforms including Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your preferred streaming service for availability as it may vary by region. DVD and Blu-ray copies are also available for purchase from major retailers.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed Bad Samaritan, you might like these similar films:
- Don’t Breathe (2016): Features burglars who break into the wrong house and encounter a dangerous, unexpected threat.
- The Collector (2009): A burglar breaks into a house to pay off debt, only to find a family held captive by a sadistic killer.
- Disturbia (2007): A teenager under house arrest suspects his neighbor is a serial killer and takes matters into his own hands.
- Parasite (2019): Explores themes of class conflict and intrusion as a poor family infiltrates a wealthy household with dark consequences.
🛒 Bad Samaritan Related Products
- Jessica Jones: The Complete First Season (Blu-ray): Relive David Tennant’s incredible performance as Kilgrave in this gripping Marvel series, showcasing his range as an actor playing complex villains. A great contrast to his role in Bad Samaritan!
- Master Lock Padlock, Set Your Own Combination Lock: Be ready for anything. 1-3/4in (44mm) Wide, Combination Lock with durable Solid Body, Stainless Steel Cover. A great tool for protecting things.
- Spy Camera Wireless Hidden,1080P WiFi Mini Hidden Camera: Monitor suspicious activity. With 1080P HD resolution, 150° wide angle lens and 6pcs IR Led Lights, the nanny cam captures details clearly even in low light conditions. With the excellent structural design, you can easily install it anywhere.
- Maserati Diecast Model Car: A highly detailed 1:24 scale replica of a Maserati, perfect for collectors and fans of the film, capturing the essence of Cale’s luxurious lifestyle.
🎧 Soundtrack
Bad Samaritan features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
‘Bad Samaritan’ is a fictional story, but it draws inspiration from real-life crimes and the psychological profiles of serial offenders. The writers aimed to create a plausible and disturbing scenario, rather than adapting a specific event.
David Tennant delivers a chilling performance as Cale Erendreich, the wealthy and psychopathic antagonist of ‘Bad Samaritan’. Known for his role as the Tenth Doctor in ‘Doctor Who’, Tennant showcases his versatility by portraying a dark and menacing character.
The main theme of ‘Bad Samaritan’ explores the consequences of unchecked privilege and the lengths to which a psychopath will go to maintain control. It also examines the moral complexities of a protagonist who is initially a criminal himself.
🔥 Bonus Content
David Tennant & Robert Sheehan on Being Scared of Social Media (Bad Samaritan Interview)
Ever wonder what David Tennant and Robert Sheehan think about social media? Turns out, they’re a bit scared of it, just like us! Check out this interview where they chat about their fears and how it relates to their roles in ‘Bad Samaritan’. It’s pretty relatable!
Moist Meter: Bad Samaritan
Want a funny, no-holds-barred review of ‘Bad Samaritan’? Penguinz0’s ‘Moist Meter’ breaks it down with hilarious honesty. Find out if this thriller is worth your time… or if it’s bone dry. Spoiler alert: his rating system is legendary!
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