Intensity: 🩸🩸 out of 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸
Written/Directed by Nicholas Bain
Set firmly in the sub-genre of Inheritance Horror, Voice of Shadows witnesses the ordeals of a young couple who’ve just inherited a large estate — as long as they abide by certain stipulations. While it might not be the most innovative thing you’ve ever seen, Voice of Shadows is a decent and gorgeous looking haunted house romp.
The Players
- Guillermo Blanco — Gabriel, the protective and conflicted member of the household who’s also afraid of basements.
- Corrinne Mica [Always, Lola (2022)] — Emma, beneficiary written into the will of the (mostly) kindly, if somewhat eccentric old lady, Milda.
- Jane Hammill [The Curse of Raven Heights (2021)] — Milda, the (mostly) kindly, if somewhat eccentric old lady who bequeaths her estate to her young friend, Emma.
- Michael Paul Levin [Frogman (2023)] — Father John, the rather combative and somewhat sketchy priest of the local church.
- Martin Harris [The Womb (2024)] — Ernesto, a slick estate lawyer and long-time friend of Milda.
Voice of Shadows breakdown
Graphic novel creator Nicholas Bain makes his directorial debut with this self-penned haunted house/possession genre flick, Voice of Shadows. It’s clear very early on in the film that Bain’s got an eye for crafting a creepy atmosphere. His subtle use of light and color easily draw the viewer into each scene.
Production quality in Voice of Shadows is top-notch. Many first time filmmakers fall into the “let’s make it really dark!” trap. Or, they can’t find a production sound mixer capable of handling the more complicated echos and dull spots that come with trying to record dialog in a big, spooky old house. Happily, none of that is evident in Voice of Shadows. Kudos to the cinematographer and sound department for navigating every scene with consistent success.
Cast and story
The cast of the film do a stellar job, for the most part. Guillermo Blanco as Gabriel was the perfect choice for the often distraught protagonist. He brings some weight to an occasionally shallow story. Also, a special shout-out to supporting actor Martin Harris who plays estate lawyer, Ernesto. Coming across as the weirdly off-putting executor of the old lady’s last will and testament, Harris steals every scene he’s in.
Where Voice of Shadows struggles is in its story. It can be a bit thin in spots. For example, María José Vargas Agudelo as Gabriel’s sister, Celeste. She does a great job in the role, but her whole character feels like an afterthought and quickly fades into the background. Primarily, though, there’s almost too much going on over the 90 minute runtime.
Gabriel and Celeste’s background story. The historical lore of the house. The inevitable occult research that takes place. There’s a lot to unpack! It’s a film that benefits from a second viewing for sure which may or may not be everyone’s cup of haunted tea.
Overall, while Voice of Shadows does make use of many familiar tropes common to Haunted House Horror, it’s still an entertaining watch. Voice of Shadows will be released September 17 on digital and streaming platforms. This includes iTunes/Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, Fandango at Home, Vimeo, and local cable & satellite providers.
Review by Robert Zilbauer.