5.7
Catherine Clare reluctantly trades life in 1980 Manhattan for a remote home in the tiny hamlet of Chosen, New York, after her husband George lands a job teaching art history at a small Hudson Valley college. Even as she does her best to transform the old dairy farm into a place where young daughter Franny will be happy, Catherine increasingly finds herself isolated and alone. She soon comes to sense a sinister darkness lurking both in the walls of the ramshackle property—and in her marriage to George.
Amanda Seyfried
Catherine Claire
James Norton
George Claire
Natalia Dyer
Willis
Alex Neustaedter
Eddie Vayle
Rhea Seehorn
Justine
Michael O'Keefe
Travis Laughton
Karen Allen
Mare Laughton
Jack Gore
Cole Vayle
F. Murray Abraham
Floyd DeBeers
James Urbaniak
Bram
Ana Sophia Heger
Franny Claire
Charlotte Maier
Peg
Kristin Griffith
Audrey Claire
Ben Graney
Husband #2
Molly Jobe
Wife #1
Joey Auzenne
Husband #1
Kelcy Griffin
Lynne
Cotter Smith
Tom Claire
Dan Daily
Pat
Maureen Young
Blind Woman
Melinda Tanner
Local Woman #2
Emily Dorsch
Ella Vayle
Alison Smith
Poet
Marion McCorry
Millicent
Peter Grosz
Martin
Brian Corrigan
Mr. Pratt
Jill Dalton
Mrs. Pratt
Peter Von Berg
Local Man
Dawn McGee
Local Woman #1
Polly Lee
Librarian
James Hindman
Bank Teller
Lewis Payton, Jr.
Shelby Warren
Olivia Boreham-Wing
Flirty Student
Michelle Brown
Reporter
Joe Lanza
Andy
John Rue
Marine Worker
Director, Screenplay
Shari Springer Berman
Director, Screenplay
Robert Pulcini
Novel
Elizabeth Brundage
April 29, 2021
6
If you enjoy reading my Spoiler-Free reviews, please follow my blog @ https://www.msbreviews.com
Horror is definitely one of my favorite genres. I find this type of film extremely impactful when done right. From sleepless nights to unforgettable images, I can never get enough of horror. However, just like every other popular genre, it reached a point where studios care more about building franchises set on formulaic screenplays than actually delivering original, creative, unique stories. Netflix isn't known for exceptional horror content, so I was skeptical going into this movie.
Things Heard & Seen may hold a generic premise, but Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini are able to add enough substance to make it interesting. Amanda Seyfried (Mank) and James Norton (Little Women) offer two remarkable performances, portraying two distinct characters that somehow ended up together. Both have their own flaws, but the husband is depicted in such a negative manner that it becomes challenging to follow someone so despicable. The main narrative offers a slight twist on the usual ghost story, making it more than just a creepy jumpscare festival, as well as possessing a particularly violent scene that's no short of surprising.
Despite the suspenseful atmosphere, the slow pacing drags an overlong film that unfortunately features an underwhelming ending. The beginning of the third act reaches the peak of excitement, boasting attention-grabbing character decisions that will surely raise the entertainment value. Sadly, the mix of feminist themes with the supernatural narrative is far from getting the right balance, ending as yet another horror flick that had everything to be much, much better.
Rating: B-