“Things Heard & Seen” is a really weird title for a movie. That said, the 2021 Netflix production has some good things going for it.
Set in 1980, the film stars Amanda Seyfried as Catherine Claire; a Manhattan art restorer who reluctantly moves to a secluded house “upstate” with her smarmy husband George (James Norton). The acting is top notch with Seyfried dazzling in the performance. She’s what will keep you watching as the movie progresses.
“Things Heard & Seen” is a horror film at its core and while there are some creepy parts, it’s more of a mystery. I really liked the color palate directors Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini chose. We get some great visuals like the farmhouse and lawn lightly dusted with snow.
The depth for the main characters is impressive. Catherine has an eating disorder and takes meds. George is a womanizer that is hiding things from his past. These elements add to the overall flow of the production.
“Things Heard & Seen” kept me attentive. It doesn’t get boring in 121 minutes, but never quite impresses either. There are a couple of good scares and Seyfried is fantastic in these scenes. As a horror movie it won’t push the needle.
What killed it for me was the tangled antics of the final act. The elements that make for the scares get confusing. The characters do things a bit out of nature for what they had already been established to do. And the ending is a mess.
“Things Heard & Seen” is a decent watch if you find yourself eager to get to October.
