WHITE NOISE  had one of the most effective trailers I’ve seen in quite some time. It actually gave me a slight case of the chills when I saw it and Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP) is a compelling subject. Unfortunately the film itself doesn’t live up to the promise of the trailer. Mind you I  really WANTED to like this movie but I walked out of the theater more annoyed than anything else.

 

         “White Noise” starts out very well and delivers some genuine eeriness and even a few pretty good jolts as it builds to a compelling and unsettling climax. The problem is that this occurs about 2/3 of the way through the film leaving the film makers with 30 minutes or so to really screw things up!  The ending is a total letdown although it seemed to freak out a few people in the theater. It’s not even entirely horrible except that it’s not where one wants the story to go after the cool set up involving disembodied voices and frightening images of  “The other side”. It also comes out of left field with only the weakest attempt at foreshadowing and seems almost  hurried as if the film makers ran out of money or inspiration.

 

         It should be said that Michael Keaton does a great job and if the film fails it’s certainly not his fault. He goes from content elder yuppie to distraught husband to a sort of paranormal “Robin Hood” and is believable throughout. In fact the acting is excellent overall and the script is palatable in terms of dialogue but writer Niall Johnson was either trying too hard or lost his focus along the way and the story seems to ultimately implode. Director Geoffrey Sax does a decent job especially with the scenes involving Keaton and a very excellent Ian McNeice (as an EVP Specialist) but the film seems choppy at times and it’s unclear whether the director or the editor is to blame.

 

       “White Noise” is not a terrible film and really does have some pretty chilling moments but this is also what makes the film so frustrating! It could have been a classic but ends up being another film with a good premise that doesn’t deliver the goods. It should fair better as a DVD rental though because for only a few bucks and free home made popcorn one can appreciate the good in this film without being overly disappointed with the bad.

 

    -Eric (Aka: Zombielover)

 

  P.S.   As an afterthought it’s quite possible that the sincerely genuine chills that occur in the central portion of the film might well elevate the “White Noise” experience for the less discriminating.