The Clearing

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The Clearing

R

Released Jan 2, 2004

1h 35m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

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Popcornmeter

44%

Tomatometer

131 Reviews

32%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Wayne Hayes (Robert Redford) and his wife, Eileen (Helen Mirren), seem to have it all. Over the years, they've built a prosperous business together while raising their two children, Tim and Jill. But the family's dream life becomes nightmarish when disgruntled employee Arnold Mack (Willem Dafoe) kidnaps Wayne and holds him for ransom. The FBI invades their home and scrutinizes every detail of their life -- and ultimately, it is left to Eileen to deliver the ransom and rescue her husband.

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Critics Consensus

Though it has an excellent cast, this emotionally detached movie is the kind that one admires more than enjoys.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Good performances almost make it worthwhile.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 28, 2010

Full Review

Anthony Lane

The New Yorker

A thriller stripped of thrills -- or, even worse, a thriller that thinks of itself as somehow rising above the vulgar pleasures of excitement.

Aug 1, 2004

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Marc Savlov

Austin Chronicle

The easy give-and-take between Redford and Mirren early in the film is flawlessly realistic, but even that couldn't stem the tide of this reviewer's yawns.

Rated: 2/5

Jul 11, 2004

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Felicia Feaster

Creative Loafing

An evolutionary thriller, The Clearing not only reinforces the status quo, it grinds the face of the economy's losers in the dirt and does a victory dance on their head.

Jan 30, 2020

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Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

I just expected a lot more in the end, and really just didn't get it with a routine script, bland plot, and an ending that was too sudden to be accepted.

Apr 29, 2009

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Film Threat

Rated: 2.5/5

Dec 6, 2005

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Anthony H

This script didn't deserve the talent and always alluring presence of the beautiful Helen Mirran.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/28/25

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Leslie W

I have never liked Willem Defoe. As an actor he's always played low down, creepy, moralles azzhats. He's ALWAYS played a psychotic creeper. Ick. Viewing "The Clearing" was a boring, ridiculous movie. I will NEVER want to see any movie with this creeper in it from here on out He's revolting. I was actually rooting for Redford's character to strangle him dead, run off, expose the kidnapping plot with the dark scenes, ambiguous nonsense, taking the blood presumably from Redford's character? Cant tell WTF?. What a senseless movie.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

09/24/25

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Bonnie L

I thought this would be a good movie due to the cast, but the pace of the story and lines made it boring. The ending was disappointing too. Boom. It concluded.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

09/22/25

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Daniel N

A soft spoken abduction drama, beautifully performed. It will haunt you if you give it space. Do not even try this film if you need the greater array of contrivances and reckless pace of most films in this subgenre.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/17/25

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Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 35 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ages 17 and older!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $5,800,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/16/25

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Walt S

Boring, I couldn't wait for it to end.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/14/24

Full Review

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Pieter Jan Brugge

Director

Robert Redford

Wayne Hayes

Helen Mirren

Eileen Hayes

Willem Dafoe

Arnold Mack

Alessandro Nivola

Tim Hayes

Matt Craven

Agent Fuller

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Synopsis

Wayne Hayes (Robert Redford) and his wife, Eileen (Helen Mirren), seem to have it all. Over the years, they've built a prosperous business together while raising their two children, Tim and Jill. But the family's dream life becomes nightmarish when disgruntled employee Arnold Mack (Willem Dafoe) kidnaps Wayne and holds him for ransom. The FBI invades their home and scrutinizes every detail of their life -- and ultimately, it is left to Eileen to deliver the ransom and rescue her husband.

Director: Pieter Jan Brugge
Producer: Jonah Smith, Pieter Jan Brugge, Palmer West
Screenwriter: Justin Haythe
Distributor: Fox
Production Co: Thousand Words
Rating: R (Brief Strong Language)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 2, 2004, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.8M
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, Dolby SR, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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