Sounds Like (2006)

In other words,this film is a surreal ride.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

I've long thought that there was a great horror film waiting to be made about the horror of everyday sounds, and "Sounds Like" is the closest thing I have seen to date that qualifies as that film. An unrelentingly bleak episode, it probably will not be enjoyed by some, but the skill in display here is undeniable. Featuring strong performances across the board, a very well written script that maintains it's tension and integrity throughout and excellent cinematography, Brad has delivered one of the best chapters in Master of Horror to date. Many episodes have good moments interspersed, or fall apart at the end, failing to find a way to tell a story within the hour that feels complete without feeling padded or compromised. "Sounds Like" is an exception. Once seen, this episode will stick with you for a while, especially the disturbing "sound" of decay. Don't miss it.

Brad Anderson is such an unconventional genre director that the categorization itself feels somewhat off (he started his career writing and directing romantic comedies, after all); that's not to say he hasn't brought a reputable eye to horror, with the mind-twisting "Machinist" and especially "Session 9" (one of the best horror sleepers of the past decade). Refreshingly (and somewhat predictably), Anderson uses the "Masters of Horror" format to tell a tale as intimately character-based as his previous works, while keeping the emphasis on a sense of unease as opposed to excessive gore. 'Sounds Like' is the story of Larry Pearce (Chris Bauer--"8MM"), a call monitor at a software company who develops super-sensitive hearing following the loss of his son; his wallow in grief is punctuated by an escalating madness that culminates in murder and, finally, silence. While the film is technically well done, with superb sound-effects editing (I particularly liked the small-arms fire of a sudden downpour against a windshield), I found myself intrigued yet detached from Larry and his predicament--aside from an early monologue and a few flashbacks, the characters aren't given enough background detail. Despite this, Anderson creates several great setpieces (including an ironic twist to Larry's refuge in a public library, and a scene where he bashes the ticking and buzzing appliances in his home with Nicholsonian grandeur), and certainly shows his knack for telling an offbeat tale. While 'Sounds Like' could have been better, it's still worth a look.

Brad Anderson has proved time and again with his previous chillers Session 9 and The Machinist that he is a new genre name to keep an eye on. Whereas most young directors are using shock, torture and gore to cover up their lack of voice, Anderson is going for broke with his quiet yet tense films. His episode of Masters Of Horror, Sounds Like, is yet another medal on his chest as this one is yet another winner. Anyone who is looking for an action packed gore filled episode better look elsewhere. Sounds Like has a slow build, but it is well worth the wait. While not a whole lot happens in the first 40 minutes of the episode, the tone of the proceedings and the plot help set the viewer up for the true horror that is to come. To put it quite frankly, Edgar Allan Poe would be very proud as this episode is a build full of atmosphere and tension to an ending that truly shocks. This is horror in its true form and with it Anderson earns his rank as a master of horror.

Larry (Chris Bauer) has a job where he monitors the calls from people on the phone trying to help others with their computers. He also had his only child die recently and feels alienated from his wife. Then he realizes his hearing become super-sensitive--he can hear things from far away and eventually he can hear peoples thoughts. But sounds are also magnified to a deafening level...and Larry begins to go mad.Unsettling and a VERY unpleasant ending but this IS a horror film. The basic premise is not bad and you're never really quite sure if Larry is going mad or if his hearing has actually gotten better. It gets a little repetitious but good acting, directing and sound recording keep it going. Director Brad Anderson also dealt with reality and madness in his excellent movie "Session 8" a few years ago. A pretty good entry in the "Masters of Horror" series.