In his debut feature, writer-director Nicholas Bain showcases a talent for crafting an unsettling atmosphere, even if the story ultimately treads familiar ground. Voice of Shadows, a slow-burn gothic horror, follows devout Catholic couple Gabriel (Guillermo Blanco) and Emma (Corrinne Mica) as they battle a mysterious cult and supernatural forces tied to an inherited estate.
Bain’s script, which draws inspiration from genre classics like The Exorcist, Paranormal Activity, and The House of Sand and Fog, relies heavily on well-worn tropes and plot devices. Gabriel and Emma travel to the country where Emma stands to inherit a large estate from her recently deceased aunt, but the inheritance comes with increasingly bizarre rules that Emma must adhere to during their weekend stay. As Emma is pulled deeper into darkness by the cult, Gabriel must confront his own troubled past to save them both from a powerful evil.
Despite the film’s adherence to genre conventions, Bain manages to generate a sense of dread throughout. The eerie visuals and slow-burn pacing effectively build tension, even if the payoff doesn’t quite live up to the setup. The performances from the cast are solid, with Blanco and Mica delivering convincing turns as the central couple. Mica’s portrayal of Emma’s gradual descent is particularly noteworthy. The supporting cast, including Bee Vang (Gran Torino) as a priest aiding the couple, also hold their own.
Voice of Shadows benefits from strong technical aspects, including Neil Murphy’s atmospheric cinematography and an evocative score by Utkucan Eken and Elif Karlidag. While some of the special effects in the finale may not be entirely convincing, they don’t significantly detract from the overall experience.
Where the film stumbles is in its narrative originality. Those seeking fresh twists on the haunted house and possession subgenres may find Voice of Shadows too beholden to formula. Bain’s exploration of faith and the supernatural adds some welcome thematic depth, but the story ultimately feels overly familiar.
Despite its shortcomings, Voice of Shadows remains a competently crafted and often effectively creepy debut from Bain. Genre fans who appreciate slow-burn horror and gothic atmospherics will likely find enough to enjoy, even if the film doesn’t quite break new ground. With a talented cast and a director who shows promise in creating unsettling moods, Voice of Shadows is a solid, if not revolutionary, addition to the indie horror landscape.
Following a successful festival run that included wins for Best Feature Film at the Romford Horror Festival, Latitude Film Awards, and Bestlov Festival, as well as Best Visual Effects at the Los Angeles Crime and Horror Festival, Voice of Shadows was acquired by Scatena & Rosner Films for a North American VOD release on September 17.
While Voice of Shadows may not reinvent the wheel, it showcases Bain’s potential as a horror filmmaker with a knack for crafting an eerie atmosphere. As a calling card for the director’s talents, it’s a promising debut that should leave genre fans curious to see what he does next.
