Noise (2023)

Noise (2023)

Another failed film on Netflix 😉 But we’re going to analyse it anyway!
Here we go:

A Belgian film, shot in Flemish, Noise is a feature film that cultivates mystery. It follows an influencer, Matthias (Ward Kerremans), who delves into a family secret when he moves back into the family home with his partner Liv (Sallie Harmsen) and their newborn baby. He learns from his father Pol (Johan Leysen) that there was a mysterious accident several years ago at the factory his father ran, which is now disused. Matthias embarks on a disturbing investigation that leads him to battle the horrific memories of his own past.

A psychological thriller, Noise leaves many questions unanswered at its conclusion, even if it provides enough elements for an almost conclusive interpretation.

Remember that Noise was rated “Worst film of all time” and “Genuine rubbish” by quite a few people. This Netflix film is being destroyed like never before by subscribers, yet it has a very high rating… as if by chance! Because this Belgian thriller is far from being unanimously acclaimed. On social networks, many people are bemoaning the film’s lack of quality and mocking the end result. After unveiling White Noise in December 2022, Netflix has added Noise to its catalogue. However, contrary to what you might think with such a title, it has nothing to do with a direct sequel to Noah Baumbach‘s film. In fact, it’s a Belgian thriller by Steffen Geypens, starring Simon D’Huyvetter, Katelijne Damen and Tony De Ghouy.

As a result, it doesn’t make you want to see another Steffen Geypens film, as this one feels like you’ve wasted 1h 29min.

Simon D’Huyvetter plays one of the worst kind of husbands you could have, so detestable is he with his wife. Whereas the woman who plays his wife, Katelijne Damen, is the most endearing character. But you get the feeling that she’s about to lose her joie de vivre in a town where nobody seems too friendly.

So the film raises a lot of interesting questions, but doesn’t really resolve them.
What we see is someone sinking into total neurosis and completely losing his footing. We know that he has lost his mother, who committed suicide by drowning herself in the lake opposite. She even tried to take her baby with her, but the father was able to save him, but couldn’t save his own wife. As a result, the son gets married, but his wife is afraid that he will do the same thing as his dead mother. What’s more, we learn that there has been a huge tragedy and several deaths (of which Matthias has visions!), but we don’t really understand what happened because, in the end, the conclusion of Matthias’ investigation is unclear. It’s possible that his delusions fuelled his suspicions, as a large part of his investigation began with the testimony of his father, who was not in the best of shape or spirits. The man was clearly suffering from the onset of dementia.

Another important fact: from the very first scenes of the film, Matthias’ obsession with his Instagram fame is quickly established. It becomes clear that Matthias gets a sense of validation from his followers. For a man who was neglected by his father and abandoned in the most excruciating way by his mother, this validation becomes his driving force. However, as he investigates further, the horrors of his childhood come flooding back.

The ending is not very clear. You have to dig to understand all the details, because it’s poetic and beautiful, but so unclear. And after getting bored and waiting for an incredible ending that could have saved the film, I gave up and didn’t give the ending the importance I should have.

That’s all there is to it!
You know everything you need to know about this film.
Whether you want to see it or not.