Desolation Sound (2005)

That was an excellent one.

Admirable film.

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

The only reason why I planned to watch this film, was the name of the film. I think "Desolation Sound" is an excellent name for a movie. It attracts the attention. I expected a lot of this film, even though it was a TV-film.I was disappointed after seeing it. It was't by far as good as the title sounds. The acting was mostly pretty good, the cinematography was by moments also nice and the music was pretty good to. But in general this is an average film that is enjoyable at some moments. If you don't expect too much of it, you will find it O.K.

Desolation Sound is about two longtime friends that have a falling out. The friend made out with the husband, the wife made out with the constable, the daughter sleep walks, and the local bike riding village idiot is an ex-con. As Joy's husband (Tracey) takes of for a few weeks in Alaska on a picture shoot, Beals arrives to visit her blood girl friend Joy at desolation sound and engages in death by friend. Only Joy doesn't get it at first so she hides the murder in her rose garden with the help of local idiot Bluteau, changes her hair color, and sleeps with the local constable (Begley). When the constable and the husband find out about the death they take the path less chosen. Technically a pretty good film, but it moves a little too slow.

Desolation Sound is a tastefully constructed thoughtful picture. It keeps you thinking long after the final credits. Haunting, spooky. I always new Jennifer Beals was good. This movie proves it. Helene Joy and Beals should work together more often. I would like to have seen more of Lothaire Bluteau. This was a good ensemble cast. The script was full of subtle nuance. I want to go to that place Desolation Sound. So beautiful to look at, a perfect place for this scary story to live. Perhaps there was too much music, although I liked the theme song. The director did a great job telling this story. I thought it was going one way then it surprised me. Really enjoyable. It just stays with you.

Not the characters, mind you, the movie! Apparently the screenwriter (Glynis Davies, who appears as "Kathy")had several ideas of what was going on, but never really chose one to focus on. First we meet Laurel, Michael & Margaret Elliot. Laurel is scattered, nervous, seems to have something going on, but what is it....we never find out. Elizabeth sleepwalks, even venturing out on the roof (aha! important plot contrivance!), so maybe that's the focus, but no....not really. Michael is a photographer conveniently sent away on a six week assignment, just as Laurel's sexy "friend" Elizabeth (Jennifer Beals) shows up. He hangs around just long enough to establish that he and Elizabeth have had an affair, she smolders at him, he says "no" unconvincingly, then he's gone until the end of the movie. There seems to be more back story with this family, but it's never revealed.Desolation Sound gives off some spooky vibes in the beginning. There's a somewhat pathetic ex-addict guy who lives in a trailer,is Margaret's playmate (!!) and makes incredibly creepy puppets. After Elizabeth meets her fate, he steals some of her hair & makes a witchy looking puppet of her. Could Elizabeth's spirit be inhabiting Laurel, who dyes her hair black (like Elizabeth), starts smoking (ditto), becomes a slob (she was a neat freak before, which Elizabeth made fun of), and begins making bizarre witchy drawings??? She even has a quickie with the local cop (also Elizabeth-like). Laurel and Elizabeth made a blood pact! O-o-o-o, Could Laurel be possessed??? Nah, she's just weird apparently.This movie tries to be many things and ends up being a confused mush of nothingness. The acting isn't very good, there are lots of plot points left hanging (why DOES Laurel see the cop car after she dumps Elizabeth's suitcase in the lake???) and in the end there isn't a real resolution, just a convenient diary entry that gets Laurel off the hook. Bleah, give me "Diabolique" (1955 version, please) any day over this trash!!