Ryan Reynolds we all hate him really so I came into The Voices with some trepidations to say the least. However The Voices brings out a charm that he has rarely shown on-screen which only flourishes in a couple of bit roles in the past. It’s directed by Marjane Satrapi who wrote the autobiographical graphic novel of Persepolis and also co-directed the film adaptation.
The film is a strange blend of black comedy, small town satire and then becomes a slasher film. It’s a mess but an entertaining mess to say the least. Reynolds plays a Norman Bates esq. psycho Jerry who has stopping taking his meds for schizophrenia so his cat and dog start talking to him. He has a factory day job and develops a crush with a co-worker but that’s not gonna end well when your best friend in a talking cat who is telling you to kill people.
It obviously has traces of the cult classic Eating Raoul but lacks focus on exactly what kind of film it wants to be. One of the films biggest problems is what happens with lots of recent “quirky” horror-comedies that they try so hard to be a “cult” film but cult films never become cult films if they try too. It also ends with a musical number that is so catchy you will have it in your head for weeks, which is both endearing and annoying in equal measure.
The production design by Udo Kramer has an incredibly bright colour palette mostly orange and pinks which is a unique in what is extensively a horrific story. It was obviously made on a small budget but has enough style to be a unique if not completely successful film. Michael R. Perry’s script reeks of first timer, it’s his 2nd script in reality but has enough gags and laughs to sustain the films 103 minute running time. Ryan Reynolds makes the film however and looks like he may has have a future ahead of him after all.
[rating=3]
Ian Schultz
Crime, Comedy | USA, 2014 | Arrow Films | 18 | 13th July 2015 (UK) | Blu-ray | Dir. Marjane Satrapi | Ryan Reynolds, Gemma Arterton, Anna Kendrick, Jacki Weaver
