Rotten Tomatoes
Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

The Secret in Their Eyes

Play trailer Poster for The Secret in Their Eyes R 2010 2h 7m Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
89% Tomatometer 136 Reviews 93% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Hoping to put to rest years of unease concerning a past case, retired criminal investigator Benjamín Espósito begins writing a novel based on the decades-old unsolved mystery of a newlywed's rape and murder. With the help of a former colleague, Judge Irene Menéndez Hastings, Benjamín attempts to make sense of the past. The journey through his memories sets Benjamín on a thrilling emotional path that leads to a shocking realization.
Watch on Fandango at Home Stream Now

Where to Watch

The Secret in Their Eyes

The Secret in Their Eyes

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Unpredictable and rich with symbolism, this Argentinian murder mystery lives up to its Oscar with an engrossing plot, Juan Jose Campanella's assured direction, and mesmerizing performances from its cast.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Ed Koch The Atlantic 01/13/2018
More of Eva and Juan Peron and the impact of fascism on the society would have added to the movie. Nevertheless, it is a good ride, but not a great one. Go to Full Review
Keith Uhlich Time Out 11/16/2011
3/5
This decade-hopping, tone-shifting mystery-thriller-romance from Argentina is about as deep as a kiddie pool, which isn't to say it's an unpleasant frolic. Go to Full Review
Maria M. Delgado Sight & Sound 08/17/2010
Darín's central performance is a consummate lesson in minimalist acting, deftly bypassing the tropes of the clichéd romantic lead and the crusading good guy. Go to Full Review
Nadia Dalimonte Next Best Picture Aug 14
9/10
Campanella’s layered storytelling builds to an unforgettable ending with a thematically fitting last line. The slow-building approach and compelling performances make for a thought-provoking journey through time and the memories that haunt us. Go to Full Review
Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) 07/19/2022
The film is really good, with excellent performances. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Taylor Baker Drink in the Movies 09/09/2021
96/100
While the logistics and cinematography are entirely enamoring it is the interiority of these characters that draws us with such intent... Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Jay W @RT52162311 22h Looking at this film at the surface level, it is a crime thriller. It is a story about detectives trying to solve a brutal murder. But the film frames it in two time periods, the one where they are investigating the crime, and another looking back 25 years later, as the case still haunts them. One superlative I can give this film, it has the best establishing shot I have ever seen. It happens as they go to a fútbol match and then continues to be one long uninterrupted shot. And in general, all the camera work in this film is very well done. On the negative side, there is a leap of logic that happens off screen that does not add up. And there is a romantic subplot that I don't buy. There are a few decisions that happen towards the end of the film that don't make sense. I'm keeping things spoiler free, so I do apologize for being vague. It's complicated. See more Alain E @AlainE Apr 20 The opening is meandering and not convincing at all. Abandoned after 8 minutes. Supposedly, it received an Oscar! See more yass m @yassminn Oct 19 I was fooled by the opening — only the start was beautiful; the rest was so boring. In fact, it's a pretentious movie, made for pretentious viewers See more Alejandro E @Alex970 Aug 2 Uno de los ejemplos más notorios del cine sudamericano. En medio de un ambiente político muy inestable, una búsqueda desesperada de justicia que mantiene cautivo al espectador a pesar de su ritmo que se toma su debido tiempo, y con un final con sabor a justicia poética. See more Pia V. @piavdm Jun 27 My favorite movie! It’s great See more Fiorella G @RT20917416 Jun 10 El secreto de sus ojos is one of the most complete films I’ve ever seen. Every element, the performances, the cinematography, the structure, the direction, is done with precision and heart. It’s not about figuring out who committed the crime, we find that out early. The real story is what that crime leaves behind, how it shapes lives, reveals the flaws in the system, and refuses to be forgotten. The film moves between two timelines, the mid 1970s and the 1990s, and this structure does more than just move the plot forward. It highlights the scars left by Argentina’s dictatorship, a justice system rotting from the inside, the city neglected. Then in the ’90s, everything looks cleaner, more “put together,” but the emotional wounds and unresolved trauma remain under the surface. That contrast is part of what makes the story so powerful. Ricardo Darín gives one of his best performances as Benjamín, a man stuck in time, haunted by the case and the woman he never had the courage to love. And then there’s Guillermo Francella, who completely steals the show. His character brings warmth, humor, and unexpected depth. The soccer monologue is one of the best monologues I have ever seen in my life. His emotional timing is impeccable; his best acting so far. The visual storytelling is just as strong. The use of red throughout the film, love, death, obsession, is subtle but caught your eye. The camera knows when to hold back and when to go all in. The pacing is deliberate, but never slow. And when the final twist hits, it hits hard. It’s unexpected and it lands with a quiet punch to the gut. Easily one of the best plot twists I’ve seen in any movie. This is more than a thriller. It’s a love story, a political commentary, and a character study, all wrapped into one. It’s thoughtful, gripping, and emotionally brutal in the best way. And please, don’t confuse this with the American remake which doesn't even compare. Rating: 5/5 See more Read all reviews
The Secret in Their Eyes

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING
The Town 92% 85% The Town Watchlist TRAILER for The Town Mother 96% 89% Mother Watchlist Edge of Darkness 54% 49% Edge of Darkness Watchlist Law Abiding Citizen 26% 75% Law Abiding Citizen Watchlist TRAILER for Law Abiding Citizen Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis Hoping to put to rest years of unease concerning a past case, retired criminal investigator Benjamín Espósito begins writing a novel based on the decades-old unsolved mystery of a newlywed's rape and murder. With the help of a former colleague, Judge Irene Menéndez Hastings, Benjamín attempts to make sense of the past. The journey through his memories sets Benjamín on a thrilling emotional path that leads to a shocking realization.
Director
Juan José Campanella
Producer
Mariela Besuievski, Juan José Campanella, Gerardo Herrero
Screenwriter
Juan José Campanella, Eduardo Sacheri
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
Canal+ España, Tornasol Films S.A.
Rating
R (Language|A Rape Scene|Some Graphic Nudity|Violent Images)
Genre
Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
Spanish
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 16, 2010, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$6.4M
Runtime
2h 7m