Noise in the Middle

Storyline is good, interesting characters and the acting was good. I like horror/suspense movies, this was a bit soft for me but after all it was worth to watch.

While the acting is certainly top-notch and convincing, thus evoking the intended emotions from the audience, there are other issues. A frequent complaint about the horror genre is how it demonizes and/or stereotypes people with various mental health diagnoses and this film is no exception. Autism Spectrum Disorder is portrayed as a complete burden and somewhat insinuates that those who suffer from it may be dangerous or even susceptible to evil. Another good thing about this film is that it kept you guessing. However, I still had some unanswered questions at the end of the movie.

This had everything going for it: it was well made, the actors weren't terrible and it was watchable but it is frustrating as hell to say the least. By the end of it, I thought it was mediocre.

Story: 1.00/2 - Direction & Pacing 2.25/4 - Performances: 1.50/2 - Entertainment 1.25/2

Total - 6/10.

Imagine a world where psychological thrillers collide with experimental mind-altering experiments, the product of which would be "Noise in the Middle", a movie that's like ordering a mystery box and getting a puzzle with missing pieces. The unique story could've been a buffet of robust, fascinating, and thought-provoking ingredients. However, we're merely served a psychological paranormal-ish thriller with all the frills of a salad without the dressing.

The direction tries to play hero, adding power to the creative storytelling like a caffeinated narrator on a sacred mission. However, the tempo remains steadfastly a stubborn mule, constantly hindering the cinematic journey instead of propelling it forward. It's like maintaining a sports car with a governor that kicks in whenever things get remotely exciting-cue the eye rolls.

But fear not, for the superb cast comes to the rescue like the Avengers of acting. Faye Hostetter, in particular, deserves a standing ovation for her brilliant portrayal of an autistic girl navigating a complex world more terribly confusing than IKEA instructions. The troubled father in this tragic tale is so clueless he ironically makes a stone rock look like Einstein. Bravo, dear sir! I caught myself shouting at the screen, wondering if he attended the "Parenting 101: How Not to Be a Bad Dad" seminar.

While "Noise in the Middle" could've been undoubtedly a masterpiece, it gracefully tiptoes away from the burning pit of doom, settling comfortably into the "watch it once, maybe twice if you're feeling adventurous" category.

In conclusion, if you're in the mood for a delicious concoction of pseudoscience, paranormal oddities, and parenting mishaps, "Noise in the Middle" might be your tepid cup of questionable tea. The picture's worth a viewing for Faye Hostetter's stellar performance. Don't forget to shout fiercely at the dreadful dad. And brace yourself for an uncomfortable ride that's as bumpy as a road under construction.

This movie started off promising, but then the father opened his mouth and the quality dropped. Your autistic daughter is 11, but you interact with her like it's your first time being around her. So I thought maybe the wife died and he was left with custody. That was not the case. He was just a bad father. All he did throughout the entire movie was yell at her for being her. His acting was atrocious. The only reason I even gave this 2 stars was because the girl was good. But everything else was awful. Who padlocks their special needs child in their room every night, then gets blackout drunk like a college kid, waking up in a new place each time. The ending also was a little confusing, but it may have been because I checked out 50 minutes in.