Things Heard & Seen
Directed by Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
- horror
The story
A young woman discovers that both her husband and their new home harbor sinister secrets after they leave Manhattan for small-town life.
What it’s like
Cold, muted 1980s interiors: pale grey winter light through tall windows, dusty wood floors, lamplit rooms that feel too large for the people in them, and a Hudson Valley town rendered in bare trees and slate skies. The palette leans desaturated and chilly, with warm amber lamplight used to suggest comfort that might be false. Framing is careful and still, with long, watchful shots that let dread gather in corners and staircases, while the score stays sparse and eerie, mostly piano and low strings that tighten as something feels wrong. Vibe: quiet unease, slow-burning gothic melancholy, a haunted house wrapped in marriage-drama restraint. It suits a grey afternoon, a late-night watch alone, or anyone who likes atmosphere that builds rather than jumps. The pace is measured, the emotional register intimate and sad, and the arc follows a young wife slowly confronting what her marriage and home are hiding, including her own fragile hold on herself. Intensity is moderate: some frightening supernatural moments, a few tense confrontations, and eating-disorder content handled with discomfort rather than graphic detail; no gore. For people who want a ghost story driven by character, secrets and atmosphere more than scares.
More films like Things Heard & Seen
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved Things Heard & Seen and we’ll explain which ones fit you.
