White Noise

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White Noise

PG-13,

2005,

1h 38m,

Mystery & Thriller/

Drama/

Horror

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7%

144 Reviews

Tomatometer

31%

100,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

7%

Tomatometer

144 Reviews

31%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Architect Jonathan Rivers (Michael Keaton) is happily married to author Anna (Chandra West), but tragedy strikes when she is killed in an accident. Deep in grief, Jonathan hears from Raymond Price (Ian McNeice), who claims that he has intercepted messages from Anna via electronic voice phenomena. Jonathan eventually comes to believe Raymond's claims, but, as he is drawn further into investigating the phenomenon, a sinister supernatural presence invades his life.

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Critics Consensus

While there are some built-in scares, the movie is muddled and unsatisfying.

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Namrata Joshi

Outlook

Jan 8, 2019

1/4

Koel Purie has a nice blithe presence. Unfortunately, White Noise does not prove to be an adequate stage for her.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Dec 29, 2010

2/5

Dumb would-be thriller -- save your money.

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Feb 28, 2007

Though I'm well disposed toward elliptical spook stories that depend on the audience's imagination for their jolts and effects, it takes art as well as craft to put them across, and Geoffrey Sax's direction of a Niall Johnson script has neither.

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Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

Sep 12, 2025

2/5

Takes an inherently creepy phenomenon and completely misses the point of what intrigues us about them.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Jul 15, 2023

1.5/4

White Noise asks viewers to accept Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP) as cold, hard fact, and then proceeds to spin a fantasy yarn that flubs its own narrative constraints.

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Kathi Maio

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction

Feb 28, 2020

Sadly, there are a hundred possible scenarios that might have made more sense than the gobbledygook plot White Noise ends up presenting...

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Harry M

Jun 5, 2018

The movie itself is pretty interesting and builds a very good atmosphere. But then the end totally ruins it. Like they had an unused specialfx budget that needed to be used at the end. Such a shame, it ruins an other wise great movie. Just turn it of before and you're fine.

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Anakin S

Jan 12, 2018

Despite some of what most films in the genre lack this one has it. Problem being is its kinda boring. Sure there is plenty of suspense and creep though.

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Theodore W

Dec 24, 2017

Not nearly as bad as the reviews are suggesting to the audience. Keaton delivers a solid performance, as well as Diane Kruger. The theme is satisfying. I believe you should watch it once or at least three times to really get into the psyche of it all.

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Han W

Nov 28, 2017

A rather bland and mediocre thriller, White Noise explores the mysterious paranormal science of EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon). Michael Keaton stars as John Rivers, a bereaved widower who discovers that his dead wife is sending him messages from the beyond through EVP that urge him to help people who are in danger from evil spirits. The writing in pretty weak and the story doesn't make a whole lot of sense. And it doesn't spend much time developing who the evil spirits are or what they want. The performances aren't that good either and are really toned down. Also, the EVP of the film isn't real EVP (which can't be interacted with post-recording) and is used more as a plot device to help the main character fight against the evil spirits. While it has an interesting premise, White Noise doesn't know what to do with it and ends up being a dull, by the numbers ghost mystery.

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Rey W

Aug 6, 2017

Tame thriller movie, lots of jump scares. But not really a rewatchable movie.

George P

May 6, 2017

A good psychological horror. Smart idea and had me scared anyway.

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Geoffrey Sax

Director

Michael Keaton

Jonathan Rivers

Chandra West

Anna Rivers

Deborah Kara Unger

Sarah Tate

Ian McNeice

Raymond Price

Sarah Strange

Jane

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Synopsis

Architect Jonathan Rivers (Michael Keaton) is happily married to author Anna (Chandra West), but tragedy strikes when she is killed in an accident. Deep in grief, Jonathan hears from Raymond Price (Ian McNeice), who claims that he has intercepted messages from Anna via electronic voice phenomena. Jonathan eventually comes to believe Raymond's claims, but, as he is drawn further into investigating the phenomenon, a sinister supernatural presence invades his life.

Director: Geoffrey Sax
Producer: Paul Brooks, Shawn Williamson
Screenwriter: Niall Johnson
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Brightlight Pictures Inc., Gold Circle Films, White Noise UK Ltd., Universal Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Language|Disturbing Images|Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama, Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 7, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $55.9M
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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