Remember a god-awful, supernatural-horror film about two-three years ago called "White Noise"? The film was dealing with EVP, which is the ability of paranormal phenomena to manifest through electronic images and sounds. The main character, portrayed by Michael Keaton, was looking for a way to contact his dead wife, only in his efforts he got involved in a supernatural crime... conspiracy... thing. That film was so bad, confusing and boring that one would think they'd just let it die out. But no, they went on and did a SEQUEL.
But wait! Because while it's true that sequels to bad films are usually a mistake by nature, "White Noise : The Light" is one of those rare cases when the sequel is not only better than the original, but also a very enjoyable flick on its own account. Once again, the film is about EVP. Abe Dale (Nathan Fillion), happy family man with beautiful wife, son and a second child on the way, sees his world shattered when out of nowhere, someone walks in the diner they were having breakfast and shoots his wife and son to death. Unable to cope with their loss, Abe attempts to end his life; unfortunately for him, he is rescued by his best friend, Marty (Adrian Holmes). Though the doctors manage to save him, Abe dies for a few seconds on the table and has a "NDE" (Near Death Experience). For some reason, that NDE gives him the ability to see who is going to die in the foreseeable future. He eventually decides to use this ability to save whoever he can see nearing their end. What he doesn't know at first is that there is a catch to the whole thing; one that will torture him forever.
The best thing about this film, being a second-rate horror/supernatural flick with -I assume- considerably less budget and non-existing promotion, is that it has structure all throughout. From the beginning it knows exactly where it wants to go. It's not chatty, it's not dragging, it's got a point, a plot and a story it wants to tell and that it does without wasting any valuable screen time. It's very refreshing, because -unlike most films as of late- it won't let you calm and drift away for any second. It's focused and it pays off.
But is it scary? Depends on your resistance to supernatural scares. It depends a lot on the classic "scare tactic" of popping a distorted face out of nowhere and deafening you with a scream. I'd be lying if I said that several of these moments didn't make me flinch, but to be honest, it's not the kind of scare I enjoy. "Scare-in-context" is more of my thing.
Interesting is the fact that the movie is filled with religious (and by religious I mean 'Christian') overtones. There are crosses EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK in the film. It's pretty obvious that the grand design the main character fights in the end is the Devil's work, even if Abe doesn't speak it out loud. What is good is that these overtones aren't hard-pressed down your throat and even though there is no shadow of doubt about the Good vs. Evil/ God Vs. Satan by the end of the film, it works just fine within the boundaries of what the film establishes. I'm an atheist, but I didn't find all the Christian imagery bothersome at all.
The cast is solid. Fillion is great as always (and underrated, seeing how he is regularly passed for second-class actor for cheaper flicks, when in fact he's a lot more). Katee Shackhoff, someone we've gotten used to as "though" on TV is unexpectedly cute and charming, on-point for the demands of her role. The rest of the cast delivers as well. The direction is... suitable. There are a couple of cheesy moments I could live without and the general direction isn't winning any awards any time soon, but it is fitting for the genre and works with the movie just fine.
Long story-short, "White Noise: The Light" is a quite enjoyable supernatural flick, which is guaranteed to keep you amused for its course and might even give you a few good scares along the way. For light entertainment with friends in a slow night, it's a perfect pick. Recommended.
"White Noise: The Light" Trailer:
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