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Movie Reviews:

Masters Of Horror - "Sounds Like"
Anchor Bay Entertainment - 2007

Directed by Brad Anderson
Based On A Story by Mike O'Driscoll
Teleplay by Brad Anderson

Starring
Laura Margolis
Chris Bauer

A call center supervisor Larry Pearce ( Chris Bauer) monitors hundreds of conversations on a daily basis so he's got a keen ears.  But following the death of his you son, Larry's hearing intensifies until almost superhuman level.  Simple noises become amplified to such a point that Pearce can barely stand it.  This pushes into to take action against anything that creates the slightest sound.  How far will he go to enjoy the silence.

"Sounds Like" is the best episode from the second season of Masters of Horror.  Brad (SESSION 9, THE MACHINIST) Anderson has crafted an incredibly cinematic experience that uses sound and picture to maximum effect.  Anderson lets the story unfold with a master-like grip on suspense and tension.

Chris Bauer is perfect as Larry Pearce.  Coming across professional in the beginning and then loses his grip on reality as he's driven to madness.

Anchor Bay does another marvelous job with the bonus features on this DVD.  Aural Madness: The Making of Sounds Like ventures into how Brad Anderson & his cast and crew accomplished this stellar episode.  Everyone says that Brad Anderson is beyond prepared.  Anderson himself says he tries to be prepared but if you are too over prepared, you going to be disappointed because you ultimately you can never get what you want.  Mick Garris says that "Sound Like" is absolutely one of the best films we've (Masters Of Horror) made."  Anderson says he wrote it because he wanted a story that was more sound driven than image driven.  Anderson feels that sound and sound design is neglected.  He felt  like it was a good opportunity in a hour long format to show how the use of sound can not only affect the story but the characters.  Anderson says that he used a lot of really close Macro shots in some ways to represent the acuity of Larry's hearing.  Anderson states you've got to be flexible on the day because things are very fast, you've got 12 hours, you're making a hour long movie in 12 shooting days.  Anderson admits what scares him is losing one's sense of reason and mental balance.

There's also a featurette called "A Cacophy of Sounds like..." which goes into the technical details of how the sound was captured for the epiosde.  You'll be amazed at what is used to create the sounds needed.

Brad Anderson supplies the Audio Commentary.  He was invited by one of the producers to see if he could come up with an idea for a show on the series.  The key for Anderson was finding the right actor to play the Larry Pearce character.  Anderson has kept his eye on Chris Bauer in the films he's done (8MM, DEVIL'S ADVOCATE).  He felt he really looked the part.  Laura Margolis won Anderson over in an audition.  Anderson states she has a somewhat grating voice what worked for how Larry Pearce gets agitated by her later in the film.  Anderson named the software company  that Bauer worked for after one of the bones for in a human ear, so that it would literally be connected to what happens in the film.  Anderson felt the music score was very key for the success of the episode.  Anderson felt Anton Sako pulled off a moody atmospheric score that doesn't interfere with the sound design.

This episode of Masters of Horror will open your eyes and ears to the wonderful storytelling ability of Brad Anderson and give you a cinematic thrill you're not soon to forget.

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