Things Heard & Seen (2021)

Things Heard & Seen is at its best when it turns a haunted-house story into something more intimate and unsettling: a portrait of a marriage where the walls feel like they’re listening and the silences speak loudest. Amanda Seyfried gives a piercing, lived-in performance that makes the slow creep of dread feel personal, while James Norton brings a chilling ambiguity that keeps you leaning in even when you want to look away. The film’s vibe is elegant and wintry, letting supernatural unease mingle with domestic tension in a way that’s surprisingly thoughtful rather than just noisy. If you want relentless jump scares, this may feel more simmer than shock—but if you like horror that’s driven by performances and the horror of what people hide from each other, it’s a gripping watch.

Things Heard & Seen wants to be a classy slow-burn haunted-house story that doubles as a sharp marital thriller about control, secrets, and isolation. The problem is it rarely commits to either lane, so the supernatural teases and relationship drama feel like separate movies awkwardly stitched together. If you need tight plotting, genuine surprises, or a payoff that justifies the buildup, this one will likely feel predictable and a bit aimless, despite its moody atmosphere. That said, the cast does what it can and there are a few eerie moments, so it may still work for viewers who enjoy gloomy vibes and don’t mind a frustrating, undercooked finish.