White Noise (2005)
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9% of critics liked it
(147 reviews) -
44% of users liked it
(171,765 ratings)
Divorced architect Jonathan Rivers (Michael Keaton) seems to lead a pretty good life with partial custody of his young son and a happy second marriage to Anna (Chandra West), a best-selling author. Things take an ugly turn when Anna disappears during a thunderstorm, apparently the victim of a freak… More Divorced architect Jonathan Rivers (Michael Keaton) seems to lead a pretty good life with partial custody of his young son and a happy second marriage to Anna (Chandra West), a best-selling author. Things take an ugly turn when Anna disappears during a thunderstorm, apparently the victim of a freak accident. Eventually, her body is found, and Jonathan sinks into despair. Then he meets Raymond (Ian McNeice), who claims that Anna has contacted him through EVP, or electronic voice phenomena. Raymond explains that the dead can communicate from beyond via static on common electronic equipment like radios and televisions. Jonathan is skeptical until he starts getting phone calls from Anna's inactive cell phone. He visits Raymond, whose home is filled with audio and video monitors and high-tech recording equipment. There he meets Sarah (Deborah Kara Unger), who has recently received a farewell message from her late fiancé. Jonathan eventually receives what appears to be a communication from Anna, but soon afterward, Raymond turns up dead. Obsessed with maintaining contact with his late wife, Jonathan visits a psychic (Connor Tracy) who warns him that he's going down a dangerous path, "meddling" in the affairs of the dead. Undaunted, Jonathan continues to study EVP and eventually finds that he's getting messages from people who haven't died...yet. White Noise was directed by Geoffrey Sax from an original script by Niall Johnson. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi
- Directed By
- Geoffrey Sax
- Written By
- Niall Johnson
- Genres
- Drama, Horror, Mystery & Suspense
- In Theaters
- Jan 7, 2005 Wide
- Studio
- Universal Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Though I'm well disposed toward elliptical spook stories that depend on the audience's imagination for their jolts and effects, it takes art as well as craft to put them across, and Geoffrey Sax's direction of a Niall Johnson script has neither.
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Christy Lemire, Associated Press
White noise is intended to help you fall asleep. White Noise would never let you do that, though. It's far too interested in a cacophony of cheap scares.
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Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Thrill-free thriller.
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James Berardinelli, ReelViews
There's no horror to speak of.
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Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com
Even if its dorky climax throws you out of the mood again, there are staticky bits of White Noise that still manage to cling.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Michael Keaton
as Jonathan Rivers
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Chandra West
as Anna Rivers
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Deborah Kara Unger
as Sarah Tate
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Ian McNeice
as Raymond Price
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Sarah Strange
as Jane
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Nicholas Elia
as Mike Rivers
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Mike Dopud
as Detective Smits
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Marsha Regis
as Police Woman
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Micki Maunsell
as Edith Tomlinson
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Suzanne Ristic
as Mary Freeman
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Peter Bryant
as Man
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Anthony Harrison
as Doctor
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April Telek
as John's Secretary
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Benita Ha
as TV Reporter
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Bruce Dawson
as Mark
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L. Harvey Gold
as Business Man
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Amber Rothwell
as Susie Tomlinson
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Mitchell Kosterman
as Work Man
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Aaron Douglas
as Young Father
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Brad Sihvon
as Minister
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Keegan Connor Tracy
as Mirabelle Keegan
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Miranda Frigon
as Car Crash Woman
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Anastasia Corbett
as Young Girl
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Ross Birchall
as Young Boy
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Bill Tarling
as Presence #1
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Chuck Walkinshaw
as Presence #2
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Colin Chapin
as Presence #3
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Michale Ascher
as Woman



