Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘The Unheard’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘The Unheard’.
​
The vast majority of people out there, are able to isolate traumatic moments in their lives as just that… moments. Dark days that didn’t last and while they badly wound a person in the short term, eventually… they can be dealt with, and we can learn from them. For instance, the death of a loved one can teach us how to cherish the moment and live life to the fullest. Or the end of a toxic relationship can teach us our worth and our value as a partner, so we don’t gravitate to that kind of person again. Or losing our job can serve as a grand wake-up call to get our life together and push toward a better tomorrow. Of course, that’s after doing all the work and, feelings our feelings in the moment, before we come to understand the meaning of a tough time, but we get there, and we feel better, and life goes on.
​
But sadly, there was mention that not everyone makes it to that point or is able to cope with those traumas. Because those folks, associate a dark day and a dark moment as a catalyst point for endless suffering. As though fate chose them to hurt and well… these are the folks that go through an extended period of suffering before they recover, if they recover at all, and they are often forgotten in our world. Since we only worry about those that move forward. But these are people that deserve help and deserve support, for they are genuinely in a tough place when the darkness covers them, and the good news is that a new movie on Shudder, showcases what that kind of life is like and how exactly one can escape that pain when they are mired within it, and that makes The Unheard a fascinating feature.

In large part because… it plunges us into that world of suffering by introducing us to a woman named Chloe who has struggled for years on end. For when she was eight years old, she lost her hearing during a bout with meningitis and to compound matters further… she lost her mother as well. A series of moments that left Chloe in a dark place. One where escape from the darkness seemed impossible because of suffering imparted by forces unknown. But a chance to potentially regain her hearing through an experimental procedure, helps her to believe that perhaps her life can change course, and she undergoes the procedure and returns to her childhood home to heal. A move that leads to quite the challenge for Chloe. For shortly after settling in, her hearing returns and with it… comes old ghosts and difficult memories, the kind that might break Chloe in her fragile state if she cannot sort out those painful moments from yesterday and their meaning. 

---

Which is… the perfect way to explore the central theme of this story. Since Chloe’s journey does indeed immerse us in the sorrow and hopelessness that comes with being that deeply buried in the darkness. For Chloe truly is a lost soul searching for something, anything, to hold onto in this life. Giving rise to a fascinating look at life in this state, before showing us how we help people escape that. Which oddly enough, is through hope. Hope that tomorrow can be better, and that the pain can end. Which is represented here by the return of Chloe’s hearing. Since it helps her to believe that she can escape the darkness surrounding her and take on anything and that’s quite the delightful message to place here, one that is perfectly juxtaposed by the scary stuff.
​
For this is… a horror film at its core and thankfully, it doesn’t disappoint there, courtesy of the appearance of two of the most terrifying monsters out there. Humanity, and our psyche. Because Chloe’s auditory hallucinations are raw and visceral and speak to a psyche that is struggling to let go of the pain and embrace the new normal and that makes for some uncomfortable and relatable moments. And of course, they are related to the spirit of her late mother, who has a few things to say about her fate and the people of the town that never really figured out her fate. Which leads to some intense and ugly scenes, the kind that speak to the cruelty that man is capable of and the horrors that plague our modern landscape.

All of which brings forth, a visceral and intense horror feature. One that uses a relatable exploration and solid scares and unique camera and sound work to take us on quite the emotional ride. One that absolutely leaves you uncomfortable but demands your attention. So, you can see if Chloe can indeed rise above the darkness and find agency and if of course… the evil beneath the surface of this town can be vanquished, and that makes this a worthwhile and unsettling watch. Just be warned, the auditory and visual elements used to express Chloe’s pain may create problems for viewers sensitive to such effects. But… if that’s not an issue, then kick back and enjoy one incredible story, one that leaves you with plenty to ponder upon since it presents the struggles we face in a refreshing and compelling light.

---

Powered by JustWatch