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My Heart Can't Beat Unless You Tell It To

Play trailer 1:52 Poster for My Heart Can't Beat Unless You Tell It To 2021 1h 30m Horror Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
98% Tomatometer 54 Reviews 61% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Dwight (Patrick Fugit) prowls the streets after dark. He searches each night for the lonely and forlorn, looking for people who won't be missed. Dwight takes no joy in this, but he needs their blood. Without fresh human blood, his fragile young brother Thomas cannot survive. Each death takes a larger toll, the burden of his crimes weighing heavier each time, threatening to crack his spirit. But Thomas (Owen Campbell) and his sister Jessie (Ingrid Sophie Schram) are all the family Dwight has left, and as a fiercely private and close-knit family unit, they depend on him and the rituals they've learned in order to keep their secret. But while Dwight yearns for another life, Jessie needs them to stay together. And always the boy must feed.
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My Heart Can't Beat Unless You Tell It To

My Heart Can't Beat Unless You Tell It To

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Critics Consensus

Unsettling and compelling in equal measure, My Heart Can't Beat Unless You Tell It To casts a visually striking and thought-provoking spell.

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Critics Reviews

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Randy Myers San Jose Mercury News Jul 9, 2021
3/4
Cuartas is an astonishing talent for horror connoisseurs who like their films classy and textured. Go to Full Review Richard Whittaker Austin Chronicle Jun 25, 2021
3.5/5
In this rusted nowhere, options are truly limited, and writer/director Jonathan Cuartas leaves their story open-ended at the beginning. Go to Full Review Peter Sobczynski RogerEbert.com Jun 25, 2021
3/4
A grimly fascinating low-fi debut from writer/director Jonathan Cuartas. Go to Full Review Julian Singleton Cinapse Jul 12, 2025
A fiercely stripped-down and realistic reworking of vampire tales. Go to Full Review Steve Morrissey Radio Times Jan 24, 2024
4/5
Shot in 20 days, with no special effects to speak off, and in rooms only murkily lit, it's atmospheric, spooky and intense. Plus, thanks to solid performances by Fugit, Schram and Campbell, it also works pretty well as a family drama. Go to Full Review Sharai Bohannon A Nightmare On Fierce Street Podcast Aug 14, 2023
It is definitely a yay for me. It's a hard one to market because it's a horror drama that's heavy on the drama. It's not the Transformers dancing that lots of audiences want, instead, it's closer to Issa López's Tigers Are Not Afraid. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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T M @RT55749265 Aug 27, 2026 Another drab tale of dysfunction and despair. This time with a vampire twist. The scene with the kid coming to the door and being shown around by the vamp doesn't work as he behaves like a zombie and also Thomas the vamp is a grown ass man! It's put there to move the plot along...slowly. thankfully short. See more E T @RT57225339 Jul 31, 2026 I wouldn't call this a horror movie .. it's not that great pretty boring See more Diane R. @dianerobertscle Oct 27, 2025 Beautiful cinematography for a rather weird story line. See more Pinoy Short R @emill_santos Feb 23, 2025 Panalo! Isa sa mga best na horror indie na napanuod ko. Hindi sya tipikal na vampire o horror movie na puno ng cgi at jumpscares. May puso ang istorya at mahusay ang pag ganap ng casts. Medyo naguluhan lang sa ending na huling eksena See more Jay A @RT87849379 Oct 29, 2024 A "realistic" view of a vampire, very unique, well thought out and well written. I wish I would have thought of this. See more Robyn A @RockynRobyn Oct 22, 2024 If you are looking for frightful Halloween horror, this is not the movie to watch. See more Read all reviews
My Heart Can't Beat Unless You Tell It To

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Cast & Crew

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Jonathan Cuartas

Director

Patrick Fugit

Dwight

Ingrid Sophie Schram

Jessie

Owen Campbell

Thomas

Moises L. Tovar

Eduardo

Judah Bateman

Turner

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My Heart Can't Beat Unless You Tell It To

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My Heart Can't Beat Unless You Tell It To

My Heart Can't Beat Unless You Tell It To (2020) My Heart Can't Beat Unless You Tell It To (2020) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Dwight (Patrick Fugit) prowls the streets after dark. He searches each night for the lonely and forlorn, looking for people who won't be missed. Dwight takes no joy in this, but he needs their blood. Without fresh human blood, his fragile young brother Thomas cannot survive. Each death takes a larger toll, the burden of his crimes weighing heavier each time, threatening to crack his spirit. But Thomas (Owen Campbell) and his sister Jessie (Ingrid Sophie Schram) are all the family Dwight has left, and as a fiercely private and close-knit family unit, they depend on him and the rituals they've learned in order to keep their secret. But while Dwight yearns for another life, Jessie needs them to stay together. And always the boy must feed.
Director
Jonathan Cuartas
Producer
Jesse R. Brown, Patrick Fugit, Anthony Pedone, Ian Peterson, Kenny Riches
Screenwriter
Jonathan Cuartas
Distributor
Dark Sky Films
Production Co
Film Exchange, Dualist
Genre
Horror, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 25, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 25, 2021
Runtime
1h 30m
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