The Voices Movie Review (2014)

When The Voices claims to be a black comedy, it’s telling the truth, but it’s leaving out the part where it dips its toes into actual horror. So that was unexpected.

I have made no secret of the fact that I’m not into horror films. I love a good psychological thriller, but when the creepy music and Halloween mask comes out, I make for the hills. I don’t like the feeling of being scared and would far rather get my adrenaline rush in an escape room or on a roller coaster.

I’ve had my eye on The Voices for a long time, though. It’s primarily described as a black comedy and stars Ryan Reynolds, Anna Kendrick, and talking pets. I never read much more than the genres and a small blurb, so how scary could it be?

The Voices is a film about a mentally ill man with a tragic (and maybe violent?) past who hears his pets speaking to him. His dog is the “good influence” and his cat is the “bad influence.” He is lonely and looking for a connection, so when he develops a crush on a woman at his work, bad things start to happen.

Let’s get one thing very straight – this is a comedy. It’s a very very dark comedy, but it is funny and quirky and a complete parody of horror films. And at the same time, it walks the line between the two constantly, wavering far from one or the other and into only comedy or only horror. At a few other times, you hurt for the main character and what he’s been through.

There are disturbing visuals that are filmed through a humorous lens, like dismembering a body, but putting random tissue into huge stacks of smallish tupperware containers. And while you are viewing the world through the eyes of Reynolds’ character, everything is neat and clean, but when you start seeing it through the eyes of anyone else, it is (intentionally) very unsettling.

This movie is a little tough for me to rate because I am having an internal battle between what I recognize as art and my own personal preferences in film. I do not like feeling afraid and I didn’t expect to feel that way, but I think that there are some extremely creative choices in this movie that I appreciate, even if I did look away from the screen many times.

There are a lot of silly aspects to The Voices (bubblegum pink work items, an Asian Elvis performance, a talking severed head) that work and are incredibly funny. The song at the end of the movie (my favorite part) had excellent costumes and a surprise appearance by a character you’ve never met before, so that was a great button on the movie. But if you are not a fan of horror, I would avoid this film. If you are, I would love to know what you thought of it!

Runtime: 103 minutes

Motion Picture Rating: R

Languages Spoken In The Film: English

Should You Watch It? Yes, but only if you enjoy being creeped out (this is comedy and horror)

Did I Cry? No

My Rating: 2.75/5 Stars

Available: Free on Peacock and Prime Video or may be available for free on other streaming platforms