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Tell Others About This Page By Using This Button "WHITE NOISE" (2005) (Michael Keaton, Deborah Kara Unger) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Minor Moderate Extreme *Heavy None Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Minor Heavy Extreme None Heavy Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Mild None Heavy Moderate Heavy QUICK TAKE: Horror: A man delves deeper into the supernatural when he tries to decipher clues left on various pieces of electronic equipment by his dead wife and other such spirits. PLOT: Jonathan Rivers (MICHAEL KEATON) is an architect with a beautiful wife -- best-selling author Anna (CHANDRA WEST) -- and young child, Mike (NICHOLAS ELIA). His idyllic world is shattered when Anna goes missing for weeks and is later found dead. Six months later, he's moved to a new place and tries to get on with his life, but the sudden presence of a stranger brings the past back to the forefront. It comes in the form of Raymond Price (IAN McNEICE), a man who claims that Anna is trying to communicate with Jonathan from the other side via a process known as EVP or Electronic Voice Phenomenon. It seems that the dead can leave messages or even appear in the static heard and seen on radios and TVs. Jonathan is skeptical at first, but when he hears Anna's voice calling out for him, he's instantly hooked. With Raymond's help and then on his own, he becomes obsessed with recording such static, hoping for more messages from his late wife. With the aid of another new believer, Sarah Tate (DEBORAH KARA UNGER), whose fiancé died eight months earlier and similarly contacted her, Jonathan continues on his quest. Yet, when he starts receiving messages from others that turn out to be prognosticators of pending events in the real world, Jonathan sets out to figure out what they mean, drawing the ire of several dark spirits that aren't happy with his meddling. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of anyone in the cast or horror films, they just might. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For violence, disturbing images and language. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: MICHAEL KEATON plays an architect who becomes involved with EVP following his wife's death and then tries to help others based on clues left by her and other spirits. CHANDRA WEST plays his author wife who tries to communicate with him following her death. NICHOLAS ELIA plays Jonathan's son who must deal with deaths in his family. DEBORAH KARA UNGER plays a bookstore owner who's into EVP and befriends and assists Jonathan. IAN McNEICE plays an EVP expert who contacts Jonathan with word that his wife is trying to communicate with him. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: Here's a brief summary of the content found in this horror film that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 1 "f" word, but only a handful of other expletives and colorful phrases. Previous video footage focuses on a woman's clothed butt, while a married couple (the woman in a lacy slip) briefly does some kissing before the woman announces she's pregnant. Violence consists of several deaths (an onscreen but non-graphic shooting, the rest occurring off camera), a woman falls from a balcony but survives the several story plunge, a woman dies in a car wreck and several evil spirits attack and kill a man. Some of that material has bloody results. Other supernatural material is present and that, various jump scenes and other such moments may be unsettling, suspenseful or scary to some viewers (mainly the very young and those with low tolerance levels). Those responsible for the deaths and kidnappings (spirit and human form) have bad attitudes, while some of those deaths result in tense family material (including that involving a young boy), and a few characters drink. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, some purposefully disorienting camera shots might have that effect. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Jonathan asks an assistant to get champagne for his wife, but then changes that order to chocolate (we never see it). Anna leaves a message for Jonathan that she's going out for a drink with her friend, but adds that she'll just be having water (since she's pregnant). Jonathan has a glass of wine by himself. Raymond and Jonathan have wine or something similar to celebrate making contact with Anna. BLOOD/GORE We see an injured woman (from a vehicle accident) with blood on her face. Sarah has some bruises and a small, dried cut on her face following a bad fall. We see a body lying on the floor several stories down in a warehouse (all seen from a long distance). We see a small pool of blood next to the head, a little from the mouth, and one leg that's bent in the wrong direction. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Some viewers might not like the characters delving into the supernatural. The evil spirits and the human they control obviously have extreme cases of bad attitudes for the abduction and killing of others. We see a kidnapper who's abducted a woman (and is apparently set to or in the process of torturing her). It's suggested that he's done this to others and then killed them. FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed under "Violence," "Blood/Gore" and "Jump Scenes" may be unsettling, suspenseful or scary to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material. Others, however, may not find the material that way. The clock in Jonathan's home suddenly stops ticking. Jonathan takes a man on an elevator ride in a building under construction. The power goes out, however, leaving them in the darkness. Jonathan's phone then suddenly rings and CallerID shows that the call is coming from Anna's cell phone. Jonathan then races home and retrieves her phone, only to have his phone receive a call from that phone while he's standing there (there's only static on the line before it goes dead). We hear otherworldly voices on the soundtrack. Jonathan discovers a new message on his home answering machine. On it is static and Anna's voice calling out his name before the message is gone. Raymond shows Jonathan the TV static he's been studying and we hear voices and partially see facial images in it. Jonathan nearly runs into traffic on the road when he drifts into another lane while distracted by the radio. The lights flicker behind Jonathan and we then see a flash image that makes it look like ghostly figures are behind him. Jonathan goes to a man's place late at night, but finds the door open and the place dark inside. He then slowly makes his way through the place until he finds it in a shambles and the man lying dead on the floor amidst his electronic gear (it's implied that angry spirits killed him). Jonathan and Sarah go through Raymond's old journal records and discover transcripts of angry and strange dialogue. A clairvoyant tells Jonathan that what he's doing is dangerous since he's meddling and mentions the ones who like to do damage (meaning some dark spirits). On occasion, we see blurry and non-distinct images of three dark spirits within the TV static. Jonathan sees Anna's image in the TV static and thus puts his head close to the screen. Sudden images then erupt on the TV, including that of a woman's face smashed against the screen. Jonathan comes across a vehicle turned on its side against a utility pole (as we see shadows of three ghostly figures pass by on the road). Inside, is an injured woman (with a bloody face) who's concerned about her baby in the back. Jonathan then races to get it out just as the sparking transformer atop the pole comes off and smashes into the car. Sarah sees images of herself in the TV static (meaning something bad is going to happen to her). After she's taken what are presumably sedatives of some sort and gone to bed, Jonathan briefly leaves the room. He then hears a noise, and sees that the heavy door-stop that he used to prop open the door is now rolling across the floor. He rushes in only to discover Sara on the edge of the balcony. He goes to save her, but she leans back and falls several stories before hitting the glass awning below her (we hear, but don't see the impact, although we do see her lying on that glass). We later see her in the hospital. Jonathan returns to his home to find that the place has been torn apart (presumably by spirits as we see the silhouettes of three evil ones on TV and then in the house). Jonathan slowly makes his way through an old, deserted and dilapidated warehouse at night (where he hears some screaming). We see the POV of something moving toward and then around Jonathan. Jonathan spots a ghostly image of Anna that tells him, "Go now." We see a kidnapper who's abducted a woman (and is apparently set to or in the process of torturing her). An evil spirit and then possibly more fly down and attack Jonathan. We see various disorienting images (including ghostly faces) along with related tussling. A ghostly voice comes from a car radio after it goes out of control (on the dial, with resultant static). GUNS/WEAPONS None. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Stay the f*ck away from me and my family," "Bullsh*t," "Bastard" and "Bitch" (both seen written). JUMP SCENES The sudden loud sound of static on the radio might startle some viewers. The sound of a phone ringing might startle some viewers. The sudden sound of loud and angry voices might startle some viewers. There's a sudden sound and the sight of a sudden image within the TV static. Jonathan sees Anna's image in the TV static and thus puts his head close to the screen. Sudden images then erupt on the TV, including that of a woman's face smashed against the screen. A woman's bloody face is suddenly against a car window. There's a sudden flash image behind Jonathan. A figure crosses by in the foreground of a shot. Sarah sees something off to her side and the camera suddenly zips there, but the screen goes black. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) An extreme amount of ominous and suspenseful music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 1 "f" word, 3 "s" words, 2 damns, 3 uses of "Oh my God" and 1 use of "God." SEX/NUDITY We see the part of Anna's lacy slip that covers her breast (through her partially open robe). Later, we see her in just that slip, Jonathan likes what he sees and then kisses her on the neck and mouth. She says she has to keep getting ready, but does inform him that she's pregnant. Jonathan watches home video footage that he shot earlier where the camera is focused on Anna's clothed butt and he jokingly comments (on the tape) of that being one of her best features. SMOKING None. TENSE FAMILY SCENES Jonathan must first deal with the disappearance of his wife, then news of her death (and subsequent funeral also attended by his son -- Anna's stepson) and then repeated contact by her from the other side. Raymond states that his 12-year-old son died sometime in the past. Sarah states that her fiancé died eight months earlier. A woman mentions that her mom died giving birth to her, and that her grandmother just recently died. We see the funeral of a miscellaneous character, attended by many, including the grieving and angry husband. A boy attends his father's funeral. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT The concept of EVP (a means by which the dead contact the living through electronic equipment). Losing a loved one. VIOLENCE We see an imagined flashback to Anna's head slamming down against some large rocks, followed by her arm that we hear snap (but we later learn that wasn't the case). Jonathan goes to a man's place late at night, but finds the door open and the place dark inside. He then slowly makes his way through the place until he finds it in a shambles and the man lying dead on the floor amidst his electronic gear (it's implied that angry spirits killed him). Jonathan throws something in frustrated anger (and we hear it break). Jonathan comes across a vehicle turned on its side against a utility pole (as we see shadows of three ghostly figures pass by on the road). Inside, is an injured woman (with a bloody face) who's concerned about her baby in the back. Jonathan then races to get it out just as the sparking transformer atop the pole comes off and smashes into the car (the woman is killed, as we later see her funeral). Jonathan rushes into a room to discover Sara on the edge of the balcony. He goes to save her, but she leans back and falls several stories before hitting the glass awning below her (we hear, but don't see the impact, although we do see her lying on that glass). We later see her in the hospital. Jonathan returns to his home to find that the place has been torn apart (presumably by spirits as we see the silhouettes of three evil ones on TV and then in the house). Jonathan rips a chain link fence from a pole to gain entry to a warehouse. An evil spirit and then possibly more fly down and attack Jonathan. We see various disorienting images (including ghostly faces) along with related tussling. Police shoot a man dead as he races to attack a woman (we hear the shot and see him fall, but there's no blood). We see a body lying on the floor several stories down in a warehouse (all seen from a distance). We see a small pool of blood next to the head, a little from the mouth, and one leg that's bent in the wrong direction (it's suggested the evil spirits killed him). Reviewed January 4, 2005 / Posted January 7, 2005

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