Things Heard & Seen (2021)

"Things Heard & Seen" is a unique film that masterfully combines elements of Gothic horror and a portrayal of a deteriorating marriage. The film, directed and written by husband-and-wife duo Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini, stands out as a rare thriller that showcases the duo's diverse filmography, which includes the critically acclaimed "American Splendor" and the less well-received comedy "The Nanny Diaries." The story begins with a man arriving at a remote farmhouse in winter 1980, where he discovers something dripping on his windshield from the ceiling - blood. He rushes inside to find his young daughter alone, and we soon learn that something terrible has occurred.

The story then flashbacks to the previous spring, when the man, George Claire, and his wife, Catherine, are celebrating their daughter's birthday in their Manhattan apartment. They appear to be a happy couple, but as they move to a small town upstate and settle into a creaky old farmhouse, it becomes clear that their marriage is on the rocks. The farmhouse George has found for the family is the stuff horror movies are made of: built in the 18th century within the pastoral splendor of the Hudson River Valley, offering equal parts beauty and foreboding, it’s isolated even within a small town. Ladies at the historical society whisper about it. Brothers who live nearby offer to help with repairs, but may have other intentions.

As Catherine begins to settle into the new house, she starts to find unsettling items left behind by the previous owners. Lamps flicker, electricity buzzes, and ethereal wisps of light pass along the windows and walls. Seyfried takes it all in silently, her expressive, wide eyes indicating her inner wonder. But in an unexpected twist, she’s not fearful of the spirits floating about—she’s fascinated by them, and wants to help them achieve peace. A scene Seyfried shares with the always tremendous F. Murray Abraham as George’s department chair is the film’s warmest, as the two reveal their mutual concern for these fitful souls.

As the supernatural elements of the story unfold, the marital turmoil becomes even more intense. George may be charismatic but he’s also a raging narcissist and a pathological liar, and Norton makes watching his silky-smooth exterior deteriorate thoroughly enjoyable. At first, it seems like he’s just a flirty professor, basking in the attention of his adoring, female students, but there’s so much more to him—and so much less.

Catherine, on the other hand, begins to come into her own over the course of the film and establishes her individual identity and interests. She begins to explore her passion for art restoration and starts to assert her individuality, even as George wants to keep her in a submissive role. The tension between the two becomes palpable and provides a greater source of suspense and intrigue as the story progresses.

While the setting of "Things Heard & Seen" may seem familiar, with a creaky, old house with a dark past where things go bump in the night, Berman and Pulcini bring a distinct, low-key vibe to the story. Their adaptation of the Elizabeth Brundage novel All Things Cease to Appear boasts a fantastic cast of actors, including James Norton, Amanda Seyfried, Karen Allen and F. Murray Abraham, who all deliver captivating performances. The film's cinematographer, Larry Smith, creates a chilly mood in his depiction of a place where the skies are perpetually gray, adding to the eerie atmosphere of the story.

Overall, "Things Heard & Seen" is a film that is not only a chilling horror movie but also a powerful exploration of a marriage in crisis. It is a film that will stay with you long after the credits have rolled, and it is a must-watch for fans of psychological thrillers and thought-provoking cinema.