Release Date: January 7, 2005
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for violence, disturbing images and language
Directed by: Geoffrey Sax
Starring: Michael Keaton, Deborah Unger, Ian McNeice, Chandra West, Colin Chapin, Anastasia Corbett, Mike Dopud, Aaron Douglas, Miranda Frigon, Mitchell Kosterman, Micki Maunsell, Marsha Regis, Suzanne Ristic, Amber Rothwell, Brad Sihvon, Bill Tarling, April Telek, Chuck Walkinshaw
Plot:
Michael Keaton plays successful architect Jonathan Rivers, whose peaceful existence is shattered by the unexplained disappearance and death of his wife, Anna (Chandra West). Jonathan is eventually contacted by a man (Ian McNeice), who claims to be receiving messages from Anna through EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon), the process through which the dead communicate with the living through household recording devices. At first skeptical, Jonathan then becomes convinced of the messages' validity, and is soon obsessed with trying to contact her on his own. His further explorations into EVP and the accompanying supernatural messages unwittingly open a door to another world, allowing something uninvited into his life.
Review:
The year 2004 has just come to an end and everyone is now making a list for their most anticipated films for 2005. Clearly, the many superhero films such as Batman Begins, Fantastic Four, Elektra, Constantine etc. are all on lists. For the Star Wars fanatics, Episode III is number one on their list. Looking at the list of movies being released in January though, this month has horror left and right.
In many ways 2004 was lacking in horror films because a lot of those films that were going to be released got pushed back to 2005. In the genre that is horror, you will once in a while find original and daring films such as last years Saw, 2003's 28 Days Later and 2002's The Ring. Unfortunately though, a lot of horror films, mainly from Hollywood are rehashes of the same nonsense that gives horror a bad wrap.
White Noise is not a rehash of anything in particular, although one could argue that its similar to The Ring in some ways. Either way, White Noise is a film that from the beginning seems to have nothing that could title it in the horror spot. Almost halfway in White Noise is when the cheap scares begin to take place. These scares are lame and have no strong impact for a long lasting scare.
In horror films there doesn't have to be jump out of your seat scares. If the atmosphere is eerie and the mood has a creepy feeling than that would easily topple down a tease of a scare or a forgettable quick jump. Its confirmed that White Noise is a very bad film, but it does offer its few minutes of quality. While there isn't much that is memorable, there is a trailer and a couple of TV spots that will serve this film with a nice gross, for at least the first weekend.
White Noise marks the debut of Director Geoffrey Sax and if he continues to make films at the caliber of this film, then it will quickly be the end for him as a director. Analyzing the direction for this film I can see what Sax wanted to do, but it seems he was concentrated too much on images of ghosts and once wasn't enough so he made Michael Keaton see it countless times. Sax as well isn't shy when it comes to the tape recordings.
Its very awkward when one notices the route this film takes because considering it is based on a true story, this film is literally unbelievable. The film seems to be too caught up on twists and turns and cannot focus on the different situations that one encounters with a ghost. However, by far the ultimate weakness of White Noise comes in its dialogue, one understands that its a simple story and with that should come some strong and interesting dialogue, but its not visible in this film.
Michael Keaton is rather disappointing in this film. While not giving Keaton all the blame because the script is extremely bland in dialogue, he still seems to very stale on a lot of scenes that did require some intensity. And Sax is a director who definitely has to tighten up his plot holes because there are some scenes that seem of importance then to only find out it was ignored when the film came to its unfitting end.
White Noise is a terrible way to begin the year of 2005. While January always seems to be a very lackluster month for movies, hopefully we can catch one of those sleeper hits. This film in many ways is simply too repetitive and lacks in any sense of horror filmmaking. White Noise takes an interesting concept and turns it into a simple and very messy one. I'd definitely skip this film in theatres and even on video, for that matter.
