The Block Island Sound begins with a man lying on a boat. An indescribable sound is heard in the distance. Directed and written by brothers Kevin and Matthew McManus, the movie sounds like it is going to be just another horror. The story follows a family who have come together. Tom, the patriarch of the family and his son Harry live on the island. When his sister Audry comes to visit, strange things begin to happen.
The sound design is excellent. There are constant loud bangs and surprising knocks. A movie called The Block Island Sound is guaranteed to have one bone chilling effect. Here, there are constant effects that keep the audience on edge. Adding to the atmosphere is the great score. While it never does anything new, the heavy drums and screeching strings amplify each situation. The best soundtracks enhance a movie and are rarely noticed which is exactly the case in The Block Island Sound.
The horror elements begin literally with the first scene. Along with the titular sound, birds fall from the sky and fish wash up on beaches. Again, it comes off as another generic scary movie. The Block Island Sound is much more, however. There is the mystery that is part of the overarching plot. However, this ties in to the horror aspect. The story is also a family drama. Most specifically, it examines the relationship between Harry and his sister.
![[Fantasia] 'The Block Island Sound' review: Layered thriller takes audience on a ride](https://i0.wp.com/aiptcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/sound.jpg?resize=740%2C320&ssl=1 "sound")
These more methodical moments are successful at building engaging characters. As more is revealed, it is impossible not to care. The Block Island Sound becomes less of a horror movie and more about people. The story itself is very intriguing. The plot crosses many genres. Horror, thriller, mystery, and drama are all elements contained in The Block Island Sound. It sounds like it is too much for one movie, but the McManus brothers do a great job of keeping the overarching narrative in focus.
The Block Island Sound is unafraid to stir together varying genres. Horror is the most noticeable, but the movie is also a strong mystery mixed in with some surprising additions. When movies do this, it is usually because they lack an identity. This ends up being very confusing for the audience. That is not the case here as the McMamus brothers weave a tight story.
Join the AIPT Patreon
Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:
- ❌ Remove all ads on the website
- 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
- 📗 Access to our monthly book club
- 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
- 💥 And more!
You must be logged in to post a comment.