Set within the Nineteen Eighties, “Issues Heard and Seen” is a couple of lady named Catherine Clare (Amanda Seyfried) who strikes to the Hudson Valley after her husband (James Norton) begins a brand new job as an artwork historical past instructor, reluctantly turning into a stay-at-home mother on an previous dairy farm after a life in Manhattan. As is the case with most horror movies the place somebody strikes to the nation, Catherine begins to suspect there’s a sinister presence in her new residence, and one thing critically unsuitable along with her marriage. You probably have learn Brundage’s e-book, you will know the reveal is that there is nothing supernatural taking place in any respect, so the horror-thriller rapidly goes the route of true crime.
Sadly, which means “Factor Heard and Seen” then pivots right into a paint-by-numbers true crime movie, and the horror arrange within the first three-fourths of the film is deserted for a drama. It is a disgrace, as a result of there may be an efficient, lingering sense of unease enveloping your complete film and a handful of really spooky moments, nevertheless it is not sufficient to save lots of the ultimate product.
All the actors are committing to their characters and it by no means seems like anybody is phoning it in, however condensing Brundage’s novel to a function runtime does not permit the movie to breathe, and far of the creeping dread discovered within the e-book is deserted … so when the even greater twist is revealed, it feels utterly unearned. Actually, this is among the few situations the place a mini-series adaptation would have been preferable to a movie, if solely so the strain had extra time to construct. All the components are there to inform a really nice thriller, it simply did not come collectively ultimately.