Movie spotlight
Listen
Documentary without audio produced by deaf people. Music is depicted visually with the complete absence of musical instruments or voices. Directed by Makihara Eri and choreographer Dakei. With a diverse lineup including ordinary deaf people with zero acting experience and a choreographer who performs in Japan and abroad, this film pulls out all the tops to give visual expression to music through the physical body. An aging man uses multiple sign language poems to convey the four seasons, and a girl expresses the wind amidst the rustling trees.
Insights
Plot Summary
A stay-at-home mother, Sarah, who is struggling with the mental health of her young son, experiences increasingly unsettling and terrifying events in her home. As her son's behavior becomes more erratic and sinister, Sarah begins to suspect a dark, possibly supernatural, presence is at play. She must confront her deepest fears and protect her family from a growing evil.
Critical Reception
Karyn Kusama's 'The Invitation' (2015) was critically acclaimed, and while 'Listen' (2016) shares some thematic elements of paranoia and dread, it did not receive the same level of widespread critical attention or commercial success. Reviews were mixed, with some critics praising its atmospheric tension and Carrie Coon's performance, while others found its narrative less compelling than Kusama's previous work.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its unnerving atmosphere and building sense of dread.
Carrie Coon's performance was frequently highlighted as a strong point.
Some found the plot predictable or the pacing too slow.
Google audience: Information regarding specific Google user reviews and their summaries for 'Listen' (2016) is not readily available in public databases.
Fun Fact
While 'Listen' (2016) is a standalone film, its themes of psychological horror and familial dread echo sentiments found in Karyn Kusama's highly praised 2015 film 'The Invitation'.
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