In Things Heard & Seen, based on the novel All Things Cease to Appear, Catherine Claire (played by Big Love/Mank's Amanda Seyfried) uproots her life and moves to Hudson Valley when her husband George (James Norton) gets a new lecturing position. She has to deal with the loneliness of being a new person in rural New York and begins to suspect something is wrong about her house.
Contrary to what this movie's trailer would have you expect, this isn't so much a horror story as a dark drama. This is a well structured tale. It does a very good job of implying things rather than straight up spoonfeeding the audience. A lot of people online have an issue with how the movie ends. It is not the ending I wanted (I mean it when I say this is dark), but I understand what the director was going for.
The two hour run time does strain itself. You'll spend a lot of time watching stuff you might not be in the mood for, including some really reprehensible actions.
The character intelligence in this is weird. There are a couple moments where you'll question the characters' decisions. Yet, the townsfolk are surprisingly smart and aware. Usually in these stories, those around the main characters have no clue anything is going on or end up believing a different narrative.
Great location settings in this; they have a rural beauty. Whereas a lot of the sets/buildings reinforce the dark/isolated tone of the movie.
Overall, this is competently made. But, it's not something something I was looking for. I didn't have fun and the message wasn't enough to make this a strong "story that has something to say" deal. I can't recommend this to others, especially if you just want to sit back and be entertained.
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