It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

An architect's desire to speak with his wife from beyond the grave, becomes an obsession with supernatural repercussions. White Noise is one of those low budget horror films that you think it's going to be truly awful and it turns out to be quite damn good and it all has to do with Michael Keaton's character who tries to contact with his dead wife but what finds is much more terrifying than what he was expecting. The acting is pretty good and Keaton's performance is really powerful and he sells with his emotion, Deborah Kara Unger who helps him threw out his quest is also good although her character and Keaton's character deserved a much better and happier ending which brings me to the flaws: The ending is what i hate about horror films in general and i didn't liked it that much also the movie is kinda slow paced which isn't a bad thing since it's all mostly based on communication with the dead so i understand why they did that. It's not the scariest movie ever made but it's definitely not one of the worst ones and it's easily better than the mediocre sequel that they released 2 years after this. Overall 'White Noise' won't win everyone and it can't win everyone but it's a much better thriller than your casual average horror film and Michael Keaton is Fantastic as always!!!

Jonathan Rivers has become a widower, wallowing in deep confusion over the death of his wife. A paranormal expert approaches him with the the ability to hear his wife from beyond the grave. Through a form of unusual communication, Jonathan will finally be able to see his wife. But in doing so, he has drawn himself into a much more dangerous place when his curiosity becomes an obsession. But his obsession will have him confront those not of this world, and some of them don't approve of Jonathan's interference.......If you've ever wanted to spend literally 90 minutes watching Michael Keaton looking depressed, ignoring his son, and staring at snow on several TVs, this is the movie for you.Anyone else, its a generic, boring horror movie, with a sound idea and a decent cast. Sax seems to think that to scare an audience you have to accompany a scare with a very loud noise.It's not scary, it's annoying as you cannot help but jump, like being poked by a cattle prod.Keaton is good, but his role is pretty thankless, and the final scene is just silly.When the direct to DVD sequel is better than the theatrical version, you know you've done something wrong....

White Noise is directed by Geoffrey Sax and written by Niall Johnson. It stars Michael Keaton, Deborah Kara Unger, Chandra West & Ian McNeice. The title of the film relates to Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP), which is a apparently a case where voices of the dead can be heard via electronic equipment such as TV static, tape recordings etc. Plot here sees Keaton play successful architect Jonathan Rivers whose world collapses when his beautiful pregnant wife, Anna (West), disappears and is subsequently found dead after an accident at the river. During his grief he is approached by Raymond Price (McNeice) who tells him that after his son died he received contact from him via EVP. Initially sceptic, Jonathan is amazed to find out that it is indeed possible and he becomes obsessed with talking to Anna, but it comes at a cost for once the channel is tuned in, other unwanted beings can come thru too."Nobody knows whether our personalities pass on to another existence or sphere, but if we can evolve an instrument so delicate as to be manipulated by our personality as it survives in the next life--such an instrument ought to record something".Welcome to one of the most frustrating chillers of recent times. Whether one is a believer in the supernatural, life after dead etc is kind of moot because the premise at the heart of white Noise is fascinating regardless of ones beliefs. Tho it's true to say that that those of an open mind are likely to get something more out of its subject matter than those who aren't. Certainly myself had never heard of EVP before the release of White Noise, so in that the film has done its job. However, after a truly brilliant trailer for the film had set it up nicely, and a first half that oozes genuine chills and scientific interest; the film descends into something of a farce by dispensing with the cranial interest value to become a kidnap thriller.After Keaton draws us in by doing a first class job of essaying a meditation on grief, he, and the other two pivotal characters along side him (Unger & McNeice), are too thinly drawn once the subject of EVP raises its static based head. It's very much a case of "oh we have lost someone, this should ease our grief" and jump right into it. Keaton then lurches from one plot contrivance to another which only serves as being a lazy set up for the big finale. Such a shame because the atmosphere was well crafted by Sax up till the last third and there is some effective jolts along the way. But it's muddled with its intentions as the makers looses sight of what, it seems, they set out to achieve. The outcome of which, as the film shifts in tone and the effects take over, doesn't make much sense.It gathered enough of a fan base to warrant a sequel in 2007, where nobody involved behind the camera with this film returned. They quit whilst marginally being ahead one feels. For Keaton and the interesting subject matter this is just about above average. But all told, in light of how it pans out, you'd be better off seeking out Gregory Hoblit's undervalued Frequency (2000) instead. 6/10

Geoffrey Sax's direction in 'White Noise' is excellent and his work is up-to the expectations, but the flaw remains in the writer of this film Niall Johnson, who gives us a disappointing end.Taking a Topic like {EVP} is serious business... some people really believe in this stuff. You can hear from the other side? You hear dead people? 'White Noise' starts off really well, it grabs you completely. But the final 20-minutes go for a toss. The suspense just doesn't work, it falls flat. I expected a great end, because the film had the potential to leave the viewer awe-struck, so sad that doesn't happen in here.Performances: Michael Keaton is the life of 'White Noise'. He's intense throughout and proves yet again that he's a true Legend of Hollywood. Chandra West does well in a cameo appearance, while Deborah Kara Unger is strictly average. Others lend able support. On the whole 'White Noise' could've had a much, much better climax... but talking in totality, This one is a good one-time watch.