White Noise (2005)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Geoffrey Sax

Writer:

Niall Johnson (written by)

Release Date:

7 January 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

The dead are trying to get a hold of you.

Plot:

An architect's desire to speak with his wife from beyond the grave, becomes an obsession with supernatural repercussions.

Plot Keywords:

Architect | Voice | Death | Widower | Electronic Voice Phenomena

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Michael Keaton	...	Jonathan Rivers
Chandra West	...	Anna Rivers
Deborah Kara Unger	...	Sarah Tate
Ian McNeice	...	Raymond Price
Sarah Strange	...	Jane
Nicholas Elia	...	Mike Rivers
Mike Dopud	...	Detective Smits
Marsha Regis	...	Police Woman
Brad Sihvon	...	Minister
Mitchell Kosterman	...	Work Man
L. Harvey Gold	...	Business Man
Amber Rothwell	...	Susie Tomlinson
Suzanne Ristic	...	Mary Freeman
Keegan Connor Tracy	...	Mirabelle Keegan
Miranda Frigon	...	Carol Black - Car Crash Woman

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence, disturbing images and language.

Runtime:

101 min | Sweden:94 min

Country:

Canada | UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Taiwan:PG-12 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Malaysia:18SG | Portugal:M/16 | Iceland:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Chile:14 | Czech Republic:15 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIA | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #40685)

Filming Locations:

Burnaby Hospital, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The EVP recording from the trailer ("I will see you no more.") that is attributed to a woman named Ruth Baxter who died in 1987, is supposedly a recording from Point Lookout, a "haunted" lighthouse in Maryland, made by an EVP researcher named Sarah Estep. The lighthouse was used as a hospital during the Civil War and some interpretations of the recording believe it to say, "I was seeing the war," or "I was seeing the water." While the recording is said to be authentic by the AAEVP, the Ruth Baxter story is fiction.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When John is talking to Mr. Black in the church, their mouths doesn't match the words they say.

Quotes:

Susie Tomlinson: It's almost like she didn't die. Two days ago I get a call from my father, and then you show up?
Jonathan Rivers: I don't understand. I've been getting messages from your grandmother for a week now.
Susie Tomlinson: No, that's not possible, she just passed away two days ago.

Movie Connections:

References The Salton Sea (2002)

Soundtrack:

Wear You Down

So Intriguing, you may wish to watch this twice

What you bear with you when you go to this movie will affect how much you enjoy this picture. If you go with an intense curiosity for the subject of EVP, but have no prior knowledge of it, you will be somewhat disappointed, as the picture does not explain the the phenomena adequately. If you go in a bona fide skeptic, you are likely to leave as a disgruntled skeptic.

As for me, having had prior knowledge on the subject matter, I went to this movie quite eagerly, and was only slightly disappointed. The film did depict a newly widowed man's grief, and the desperation that sometimes follows such a loss. Although not many will go as far as to attempt contact via electronic devices, we can identify with the protagonist's need for closure. for who hasn't longed for that last conversation, kind word or even a farewell from a deceased loved one.

The actors were proficient in their roles, and a number of scenes left me quite shocked and unsettled. That is saying quite a lot, as I've tried my hand at contacting the spirit world before, but have never seen such a frightening experience as that endured by the protagonists.

The only things that detracted from the movie was its ending and its confusing pace. Although the first third of the movie went at an almost too slow pace, it was easy to follow. The latter 2/3s of the program could get confusing, and almost felt like some one stomped into the studio whilst they were filming and said "Come on then! Get a move on! We haven't got until Gabriel's trumpet resounds!" It simply went to quickly, hence my decision to see it twice. Not to spoil anything for those who have not seen this picture yet, but the latter part of the movie left matters to be desired.

The generous rating is warranted however, for creating an interesting movie around something as time-consuming and often unrewarding as EVP is quite a feat in and of itself. True, they have embellished things quite a bit, but if they hadn't, they'd not attract as wide an audience. The special effects were done well, and the director did the splendid job of keeping the audience tense for the greater part of the picture.

If you purchase the DVD, plan to watch it twice or thrice to get the most enjoyment out of it. Remember to watch also with an open mind, and at least some prior knowledge to the EVP phenomenon. Happy watching.