What Is The Voices About?
The premise of The Voices in 297 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a dimly lit suburban landscape where ordinary routines hide uneasy undercurrents, the protagonist—a determined woman driven by familial love—returns home after her sister’s sudden mental collapse. The quiet streets and familiar rooms quickly begin to feel like a labyrinth of half‑remembered conversations and lingering shadows, hinting that the truth behind the breakdown may be more tangled than any medical file can capture. From the outset, the film sets a tone of measured dread, letting the audience hear the faint hum of everyday life while sensing something decidedly off‑kilter beneath the surface.
As she delves deeper into her sister’s past, the world around her seems to shift with each new fragment she uncovers. The house’s muted colors, the flickering glow of streetlights, and the relentless echo of distant, indistinct voices create an atmosphere that blurs the line between the external and the internal. Every hallway appears both a path forward and a trap of the mind, inviting viewers to question whether the creeping paranoia is a product of the environment or a symptom of an unseen psychological fracture.
The core of the story rests on the fragile bond between the two sisters. The protagonist’s fierce loyalty and protective instinct clash with her growing unease, forcing her to weigh her desire for answers against the possibility that some doors, once opened, cannot be closed. The film’s pacing mirrors this internal tug‑of‑war, moving deliberately yet with an undercurrent of urgency, as ordinary details become amplified clues in a mystery that feels both intimate and universal.
Through muted sound design, restrained lighting, and a steady unraveling of perception, the narrative invites the audience to walk alongside a woman whose quest for truth becomes a haunting exploration of how fragile the human mind can be when reality itself begins to fracture.
What Happens in The Voices?
The complete story of The Voices, from the first scene to the last, in 704 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 4 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Jerry Hickfang’s existence is a chaotic intertwining of reality and delusion, revealing the complex nature of his schizophrenia. By day, he endures a monotonous routine working at a plumbing fixtures factory, and at night, he’s isolated above a bowling alley, with the sounds of laughter and clattering pins echoing in the void of his loneliness.
As Jerry grapples with his fragmented mind, he tries to manage the conflicting narratives he shares with his court-appointed therapist, Dr. Warren. In his troubled mind, he believes he converses with his lovable dog, Bosco, and his sardonic cat, Mr. Whiskers, who lead him through bizarre dialogues.
Jerry’s attempt at a social life takes a turn for the worse when a dinner date with his coworker Fiona falls apart as she opts for karaoke with friends Lisa and Alison. However, when he drives Fiona home after her car breaks down, the encounter spirals after a deer crashes through his windshield, which seems to plead for mercy with its eyes.
In a dark twist of fate caused by his hallucinations, Jerry interprets the deer’s gaze as a cry for him to end its suffering—an action which sets off a tragic chain of events. Fiona’s sudden flight into the woods from the distressing confrontation leads Jerry down the path of violence, resulting in a horrifying accident where he wounds her, then, in a panic, proceeds to inflict fatal harm, overwhelmed with regret and tears.
Back at his increasingly chaotic home, Bosco beseeches Jerry to contact the authorities, while Mr. Whiskers instills feelings of shame that prevent him from doing so. Consequently, Jerry takes a menacing route—dismembering Fiona’s body and stowing her remains in Tupperware, haunted by the chilling demands of her decaying head that urges him to resume his medication.
As reality continues to blur, Jerry confronts flashbacks of his abusive father, which have marred his psyche. Waking to a grotesque landscape of garbage, animal waste, and blood, he makes the fateful decision to discard his medication, thus reopening the floodgates of his troubling hallucinations. Fiona’s head now becomes a grotesque muse, insisting that he finds “a friend” for her, and with Lisa as his potential next victim, he lures her to his childhood home—haunted by memories of his mother’s tragic demise.
Just as Jerry prepares for new violence inspired by his mother’s death, the unexpected presence of Lisa pulls him from the edge. She offers comfort and a kiss, anchoring him back to reality. However, the gruesome reality of Fiona’s remains causes a confrontation with the past, forcing him to face the grotesque drive propelling his heinous actions—realizing that the voices urging him on are mere fabrications of his deteriorating mind.
When Lisa unexpectedly shows up at his home, the horrifying condition of his apartment is revealed—fiona’s head among other remnants of his crimes. In a gruesome turn, Jerry succumbs to his delusions yet again, leading to another horrific act where he dismembers Lisa and preserves her head with Fiona’s in his refrigerator.
Amidst the shock of Lisa’s disappearance, Jerry’s coworkers scramble to piece together the truth. As they uncover the dark history of his past—including his mother’s death—Alison ventures into his apartment but meets her end at Jerry’s hands, who is spiraling further into madness as he builds a dreadful collection of severed heads.
Faced with the cacophony of voices in his head, Jerry feels compelled to confess to Dr. Warren regarding his gruesome acts, prompting him to kidnap her in a frenzied bid for guidance. As the authorities close in on his crumbling reality, he spirals deeper into insanity, taking Dr. Warren to the bowling alley—where chaos ensues leading to a catastrophic gas leak explosion.
In the aftermath of fiery destruction, Jerry finds himself caught between the insistent urging of Mr. Whiskers to continue his spree and Bosco’s counsel to surrender. Ultimately, he succumbs to the smoke and flames, existing in a surreal void where he reunites with his deceased companions. Here, a strange reconciliation occurs as Mr. Whiskers and Bosco confront their differences, culminating in an unexpected visitation from Jesus. This leads to an eccentric celebration of life, death, and redemption through song and dance, leaving Jerry to offer heartfelt apologies to his victims—Fiona, Lisa, and Alison.
The Voices Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “Jerry's Monotonous Routine” to “A Surreal Reunion”. 11 events name a place, across 7 locations.
- 1
Jerry's Monotonous Routine
By day, Jerry Hickfang leads a mundane life working at a plumbing fixtures factory. The repetitive nature of his daily tasks highlights his isolation and the struggle against his schizophrenia.
When:Daytime Where:Plumbing Fixtures Factory
- 2
Isolation Above the Bowling Alley
At night, Jerry retreats to his apartment above a bowling alley, surrounded by the echoing sounds of laughter and clattering pins. This stark contrast to his loneliness deepens his internal conflict as his mind skews reality.
When:Nighttime Where:Bowling Alley
- 3
Conversations with Animals
In a desperate attempt to cope, Jerry engages in bizarre dialogues with his pet dog, Bosco, and his sardonic cat, Mr. Whiskers. These conversations blur the line between his reality and delusions, complicating his grasp on mental health.
- 4
Dinner Date Gone Awry
Jerry's attempt to connect socially leads to a disappointing dinner date with Fiona, who chooses to spend time with friends instead. The incident highlights his struggles with relationships and the loneliness that envelops him.
- 5
The Deer Incident
After driving Fiona home when her car breaks down, a deer crashes through Jerry's windshield. This traumatic encounter triggers a series of violent actions that emerge from his distorted perception of reality.
Where:Roadside
- 6
Tragic Accident
Overwhelmed by his hallucinations, Jerry misinterprets the deer's fearful gaze as a call to action, leading to a tragic accident that results in Fiona being harmed. This event marks the beginning of a dark spiral into violence and regret.
Where:Woods
- 7
Body Disposal
Struggling with guilt and confusion, Jerry dismembers Fiona's body and stows her remains in Tupperware. This grotesque decision stems from his inability to confront his actions and the pressures of his disintegrating sanity.
Where:Jerry's Home
- 8
Haunted by the Past
Flashbacks of Jerry's abusive father plague his psyche as he navigates his deteriorating mental health. These memories intertwine with his hallucinations, deepening his disconnect from reality.
- 9
Surrender to Delusions
Abandoning his medication leads to an escalation of Jerry's hallucinations, with Fiona's decapitated head demanding he find 'a friend' for her. This tragic reinterpretation of his reality propels him toward targeting a new victim.
Where:Childhood Home
- 10
Encounter with Lisa
Just as he plots further violence, Jerry's unexpected interaction with Lisa offers him a fleeting sense of hope and connection. However, the reminder of his horrific acts lurks nearby, threatening his fragile grip on sanity.
Where:Jerry's Home
Show the other 5 events of The Voices Hide the last 5 events
- 11
Lisa's Disappearance
In a shocking turn of events, Jerry succumbs to his dark urges and dismembers Lisa, placing her head alongside Fiona's in his refrigerator. This marks a point of no return for Jerry as he fully embraces his madness.
Where:Jerry's Home
- 12
Coworkers Investigate
As Lisa goes missing, Jerry's coworkers start piecing together his troubling secrets, including the trauma of his mother's death. Their investigation leads to further horror as Alison confronts Jerry, leading to her tragic fate.
Where:Jerry's Home
- 13
The Confession
Driven by his delusions, Jerry kidnaps Dr. Warren in a frantic effort to confess his crimes and seek guidance. This act of desperation illustrates how far he has fallen into insanity as reality fades.
- 14
Bowling Alley Chaos
In a final act of madness, Jerry takes Dr. Warren to the bowling alley, where chaos erupts amidst a catastrophic gas leak explosion. This climactic event represents the culmination of his unraveling sanity.
Where:Bowling Alley
- 15
A Surreal Reunion
Ultimately, Jerry succumbs to the smoke and flames, entering a surreal void where he reconciles with his deceased companions, Bosco and Mr. Whiskers. This strange celebration of life, death, and redemption leaves him to grapple with the consequences of his actions.
Where:Surreal Void
Who Are the Main Characters in The Voices?
6 characters, among them Jerry Hickfang, Dr. Warren and Fiona: who each one is and the part they play in the story. 4 of them link to the actor’s page.
- JH
Jerry Hickfang
Jerry is a troubled man grappling with schizophrenia, struggling to differentiate between reality and his delusions. His violent actions, driven by his hallucinations, reveal a deeply scarred individual haunted by his past and his father's abuse, ultimately leading to tragic consequences.
- 🧠 Mental Illness
- 🩸 Violence
- 💔 Isolation
-
Dr. Warren
Played by Jacki Weaver
Dr. Warren is Jerry's court-appointed therapist, who attempts to help him navigate his challenging mental state. Her role becomes critical as Jerry's actions spiral out of control, ultimately leading to a dangerous confrontation with him.
- 👩⚕️ Therapist
- 🧠 Guidance
-
Fiona
Played by Anna Kendrick
Fiona is Jerry's coworker, whose life takes a tragic turn due to Jerry's delusional state. Her initial kindness towards Jerry turns into a source of horror as he misinterprets a series of events leading her to a sad fate.
- ❤️ Coworker
- 💔 Tragic Fate
-
Lisa
Played by Gemma Arterton
Lisa represents a potential connection for Jerry but falls victim to his delusions. Her presence in his life momentarily grounds him, but she ultimately becomes another tragic consequence of his mental illness.
- ❤️ Connection
- 🩸 Victim
- MW
Mr. Whiskers
Mr. Whiskers is a figment of Jerry's imagination, representing the darker aspects of his mind. This sardonic cat embodies the voice of cynicism, urging Jerry to act on his violent impulses.
- 🐱 Hallucination
- 🩸 Dark Voice
-
Bosco
Played by Ryan Reynolds
Bosco, Jerry's lovable dog, serves as a comforting presence against Jerry's chaotic thoughts. He often offers guidance, contrasting Mr. Whiskers' sinister urgings as Jerry grapples with his moral decisions.
- 🐶 Comfort
- 🧠 Guidance
Where and When Is The Voices Set?
The Voices is set in plumbing fixtures factory and bowling alley. Here is why the place matters to the story.
When
The time period of the movie is not explicitly stated, focusing instead on Jerry's chaotic internal struggles and the consequences of his actions, which transcend conventional time markers. The film's events unfold in a modern context, characterized by the presence of contemporary settings and societal norms.
Where
plumbing fixtures factory, bowling alley
The film takes place in a plumbing fixtures factory where Jerry works during the day, highlighting the monotony of his life. At night, he resides above a bowling alley, which serves as a contrasting backdrop to his empty existence, filled with the sounds of laughter and clattering pins that echo his loneliness.
- 🏭 Factory
- 🎳 Bowling Alley
What Are the Themes of The Voices?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Mental Health, Violence and Isolation.
-
01
Mental Health
The movie delves deep into the complexities of mental illness, particularly schizophrenia, as seen through Jerry's fragmented perception of reality. His interactions with anthropomorphic animals symbolize the internal battles he faces, showcasing the struggle between his delusions and the harsh realities of his actions and psyche.
-
02
Violence
Violence is a core theme, stemming from Jerry's deteriorating mental state, which leads him to commit horrific acts against those around him. The film captures the disturbing transition from his mundane life to a horrifying reality shaped by his hallucinations, revealing the devastating consequences of unchecked mental health issues.
-
03
Isolation
Isolation pervades Jerry's life, both physically in his home above the bowling alley and emotionally through his mental struggles. The film illustrates how his loneliness drives him deeper into delusion and violence, presenting a poignant commentary on the effects of isolation on the human psyche.
What Kind of Film Is The Voices?
Dark in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Ambiguous
A disturbing and darkly comic descent into madness, where a lonely man's cheerful demeanor violently clashes with his gruesome hallucinations, creating an unsettling and tragic viewing experience.
- unsettling
- darkly humorous
- chaotic
- hallucinatory
- lonely
- grotesque
- mental illness
- schizophrenia
- reality vs delusion
- violence
Content notes: graphic violence, dismemberment, murder, mental illness, suicide, child abuse.
Quiz
How well do you remember The Voices? Test yourself on the story.
