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Drama thriller

Things Heard & Seen (2021): Cast, Ratings & Ending

Things Heard & Seen (2021) movie poster

Things Heard & Seen is a 2021 drama thriller directed by Robert Pulcini and Shari Springer Berman, starring Amanda Seyfried as Catherine Claire, James Norton and Alex Neustaedter. It runs 1 hour 59 minutes. Critics gave it 38% on Rotten Tomatoes and 49 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.3/10.

IMDb rating
5.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
38%
Echo Score
56
Metascore
49
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Things Heard & Seen (2021) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 59m (119 min)
Genres
Drama , Mystery , Thriller , Horror
Original language
English
Studio
Netflix
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Things Heard & Seen About?

The premise of Things Heard & Seen without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

Seeking a fresh start, Catherine Clare leaves 1980s Manhattan with her husband George and young daughter Franny, relocating to a historic farmhouse in the Hudson Valley. Hoping for a tranquil life, Catherine soon finds herself increasingly disturbed by unsettling events and the house's mysterious past. As she grapples with the isolation of rural living and hidden truths about her marriage, Catherine’s growing sense of dread leads her to question everything she thought she knew.

Things Heard & Seen Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • ghost
  • husband wife relationship
  • haunted house
  • seance
  • husband murders his wife
  • seeing a ghost
  • red barn
  • reference to the iran hostage crisis
  • reference to jimmy carter
  • axe
  • f word
  • wet clothes
+38 more
  • old photograph
  • small town college
  • college professor
  • cheating husband
  • marital problem
  • impostor
  • name calling
  • based on novel
  • house
  • marriage
  • sinister
  • darkness
  • home
  • couple
  • ampersand in title
  • manhattan new york city
  • masturbating in a shower
  • caught masturbating
  • wife walks in on husband masturbating
  • year 1980
  • year 1979
  • yard work
  • pond
  • little girl
  • redheaded boy
  • reference to emanuel swedenborg
  • reference to george inness
  • smoking marijuana
  • chopping wood
  • small town
  • small town life
  • reference to adidas
  • jogger
  • horse stable
  • wildflower
  • pokies
  • reference to louis armstrong
  • playing piano
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Cast & crew

Things Heard & Seen Cast & Characters

Amanda Seyfried leads the cast as Catherine Claire, with James Norton as George Claire and Alex Neustaedter as Eddie Vayle. Directed by Robert Pulcini and Shari Springer Berman; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Things Heard & Seen

· 6 more
From the directors

More from Robert Pulcini and Shari Springer Berman

More films directed by Robert Pulcini and Shari Springer Berman, best-rated first: American Splendor, Ten Thousand Saints, The Extra Man and The Nanny Diaries.

Ratings

Things Heard & Seen Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Things Heard & Seen 38% on Rotten Tomatoes and 49 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 56/100, strongest in art & craft (75) and weakest in rewatch factor (30).

56 /100

Things Heard & Seen Echo Score Breakdown

The film elicits a mixed response with commendable performances and visual craft but is undermined by a sluggish narrative and predictable developments. Reviewers noted the striking autumnal cinematography and nuanced ensemble acting, particularly praising the lead portrayal, while also pointing to an inconsistent directorial approach and limited scares. The pacing and derivative plotting were frequently described as omissions that dilute engagement. Ultimately, it offers sporadic moments of intrigue yet remains uneven in its overall impact.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 75

    In terms of art and craft, the film showcases striking visual composition and thoughtfully executed production design, particularly in its autumnal settings and shadow-rich lighting. The editing features artful cuts that momentarily heighten tension, though the directorial choices sometimes feel conventional and impede narrative momentum. Overall, the visual elements display competence but lack consistent dynamism.

  • Character & Emotion 70

    When it comes to character and emotion, the ensemble delivers compelling work anchored by a nuanced lead performance that captures emotional vulnerability. The central relationship conveys genuine tension, yet several supporting roles receive limited depth, resulting in uneven resonance. Though moments of authentic interaction stand out, the characterizations overall stop short of fully engaging the viewer emotionally.

  • Story & Flow 45

    When examining story and flow, the narrative is often described as slow-moving and predictably structured, with derivative elements that echo familiar titles. Critics and viewers alike cited a plodding pace that undermines suspense and limited originality in its plot twists. Though the underlying marriage drama offers thematic intent, the coherence and engagement suffer from uneven storytelling.

  • Sensory Experience 60

    In sensory experience, the film delivers a subdued soundscape and an atmospheric score that underscore its eerie intentions, with the seance sequence notably effective. The visual style remains cohesive through consistent color palettes and striking location shots. However, jump scares are scarce and sound design seldom maximizes tension, resulting in limited sensory impact.

  • Rewatch Factor 30

    Regarding rewatch factor, the film struggles to offer lasting appeal, with several reviewers describing the experience as forgettable and unrewarding on subsequent viewings. The mostly predictable storyline and uneven pacing diminish motivations to revisit the material. While the central performance provides moments of interest, the overall lack of novelty and tension limits its replay value.

Plot

Things Heard & Seen Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Things Heard & Seen from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In 1980, art restorer Catherine Claire finds herself navigating life’s challenges in Manhattan alongside her husband, George Claire, and their daughter, Franny. When George secures a teaching position in art history at a college, the family relocates to an expansive farmhouse in upstate New York. Struggling with her battle against bulimia, Catherine feels increasingly isolated in their new surroundings.

It’s there that she discovers an old Bible containing a detailed family tree of the previous owners, the Smits, with several names ominously tagged as “Damned.” Haunted by the feeling that a spirit resides in the house, she sees peculiar lights guiding her to a vintage ring that she decides to wear. Franny, sensing unusual presences, experiences visions of a female spirit and asks to sleep with her parents for comfort.

Full summary

The whole story of Things Heard & Seen, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Videos

Things Heard & Seen Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Things Heard & Seen.

Things Heard & Seen starring Amanda Seyfried | Official Trailer | Netflix
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Things Heard & Seen?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What decade does the film 'Things Heard & Seen' take place in?

Details

Things Heard & Seen Also Known As

28 alternative titles, including “All Things Cease to Appear” and “Όσα Ψιθυρίζει το Σκοτάδι”.

Also known as
  • All Things Cease to Appear
  • Όσα Ψιθυρίζει το Σκοτάδι
  • L'apparenza delle cose
  • Co widać i słychać
  • Sussurros das Trevas
  • Cosas escuchadas y vistas
  • 謎屋闇語
  • Her Şey Yok Olur
  • 闇はささやく
  • Побачене та почуте
  • 闇はささやく:2021
  • Vozes e Vultos
+16 more
  • Dans les angles morts
  • Kísértő múlt
  • Увиденное и услышанное
  • La apariencia de las cosas
  • 허드 앤 씬
  • Co jsme viděli, co jsme slyšeli
  • 所见所闻
  • דברים ששמענו וראינו
  • แว่วเสียงวิญญาณหลอน
  • Почуте й побачене
  • Čo sme videli, čo sme počuli
  • Girdėti ir matyti dalykai
  • Нещата чути и видяни, ნანახი და გაგონილი ამბები
  • Things Heard and Seen
  • Mắt Thấy
  • Tai Nghe

Seen Things Heard & Seen?

FAQ

Things Heard & Seen FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings and post-credit scenes of Things Heard & Seen, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Things Heard & Seen?

Things Heard & Seen runs 1 hour 59 minutes (119 minutes).

When was Things Heard & Seen released?

Things Heard & Seen was released on April 29, 2021.

Who directed Things Heard & Seen?

Things Heard & Seen was directed by Robert Pulcini and Shari Springer Berman.

More films by Robert Pulcini

Who is in the cast of Things Heard & Seen?

Things Heard & Seen stars Amanda Seyfried as Catherine Claire, James Norton as George Claire and Alex Neustaedter as Eddie Vayle, among 10 credited actors.

How is Things Heard & Seen rated?

Things Heard & Seen has 5.3/10 on IMDb, 38% on Rotten Tomatoes, 49 on Metacritic and 57% on TMDB.

Does Things Heard & Seen have a post-credit scene?

No. Things Heard & Seen has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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