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The Voices (2014) - Marjane Satrapi



Ryan Reynolds and Anna Kendrick star in this independent horror comedy from Germany. Weird? So is this movie. The Voices is a really wild ride. I has everything from dark humor to subdued gore. It looks like a movie that you would take your significant other to, maybe on a date night. However, under the surface it hides a pretty monstrous and dark underbelly. 

On the surface, Jerry is a really great guy that works at a bathtub factory. He's that guy that bounces around the office. Just a little annoying, but always happy. However, something is off. He had previously been administered to an asylum for several years and he goes to a psychiatrist that is appointed by the state for his condition. He hears voices. He speaks with his dog and cat. They speak back to him. When Jerry pursues his office romance things get bad. She stands him up on a date and comes to a horrible end. 

This black comedy actually hits some pretty good high-points. The banter between the pets and Jerry is great. Mr. Whiskers is  Unfortunately, its really depressing. Otherwise it would have really good rewatch value. Ryan Reynolds is fantastic. You get to see a lot of different emotions. He really hits a broad spectrum. It's a great role for someone like himself. 

The horror comes when Jerry "accidentally" kills the woman that stands him up. There are decapitations and very visceral and graphic imagery when Jerry is off of his meds. One aspect about this movie that I really liked was that the medication that Jerry was taking would actually make the world around him brighter and more positive. It was a super effective thing. 

The Voices is really good and kinda works as a date movie. If you are dating some forlorn writer or other tortured soul (emo). It isn't that inappropriate and sometimes can pass for more of a dark comedy than a horror picture. 

Director: Marjane Satrapi
Producer: Matthew Rhodes, Adi Shankar and Roy Lee
Writer: Michael R. Perry
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Gemma Arterton, Anna Kendrick and Jacki Weaver
Studio: 1984 Private Defense Contractors, Babelsberg Studio. Mandalay Vision and Vertigo Entertainment
Release Date: January 19, 2014
Country: United States
Did ya Know: When Jerry quizzes Fiona on the Bible he says that there are only four angels mentioned by name in the Bible. His answers are Michael, Gabriel, Raphael and Lucifer. Technically Raphael is not in the canonical books of the Bible, but is mentioned in the non-canonical Book of Tobit. On top of this there is an angel spoken of specifically as the Angel of the Lord as a personal moniker.


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