The less you know about The Block Island Sound before watching, the better, as it’s a film shrouded in mystery and to share too much would take away from the experience. The basic premise is that something terrifying is happening off the coast of Block Island. A strange force is thriving, influencing residents and wildlife alike. We explore what is happening within the framework of one fractured family group.
With The Block Island Sound, brothers Kevin and Matthew McManus have tapped into that same Lovecraftian science-fiction juju that Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead do so well. There are definite vibes of Benson and Moorhead’s The Endless, as well as a touch of Gareth Edwards’ Monsters. Like both, The Block Island Sound has an enigmatic component that may, or may not be, otherworldly, but chooses to focus more on the relationship and dynamics of the characters – brother and sister, Henry (Chris Sheffield) and Audrey (Michaela McManus). Although an adult, Henry still lives on Block Island, at the family house with their father; Audrey on the other hand, lives off the island, but her work as a marine biologist brings her back to town with her young daughter Emily in tow. Given her distance from the family, Audrey instantly recognises that something is off with their father, but before any help can be given, he disappears. Over the coming days, Henry also starts to behave erratically, and it’s down to Audrey to figure out what it happening before it is too late.
There’s a strong nautical theme and setting to The Block Island Sound. We get several strange trips to sea, one of which contains the most spectacular set-piece in the film. This moment is a perfect blend of intrigue, visual effects, and thrumming score. It helps set up the final third of the movie, answering some of the questions posed up to then, but also throws up plenty more to keep the viewer engaged until the climatic conclusion. Recently there has been a pattern of science-fiction horror that heavily features the sea, arriving onto screens, which includes Sea Fever , Underwater and The Beach House ; whilst The Block Island Sound can easily sit alongside them, it is very much its own entity entirely.
We cannot discuss The Block Island Sound without of course referencing the sound of the film. The sound design and score are both heavily electronic and synthesised with both taking on a life of their own. There’s a depth to the audio structure that almost adds an entire extra-dimension to the film. In the aforementioned sequence at sea, the audio and score seamlessly combine, mixing together to produce an almighty current of sound, which gives the impression of distorting and warping the world. When combined with some breathtaking visuals, it is simply sensational. Paul Koch’s composition channels both Looper and Blade Runner 2049 but, much like the movie itself, it is its own unique creation.
Good sound design and score are only ever as good as the story and images that they accompany, and here they are backed up by equally strong elements. Not only is the narrative strongly mysterious, the film also has a very strong aesthetic. The cinematography is beautiful and strikes the perfect balance between small town realism and low-fi futurism. The night scenes are realised especially effectively, with director of photography Alan Gwizdowski capturing a particularly pretty dusk that adds an odd sense of foreboding to one night-time set scene. All elements on screen generate an immensely dense atmosphere of unease, intrigue, and at times genuine, toe-curling fear.
A film that relies on its truly enigmatic nature to draw the viewer in, the less you know about it beforehand, the better the viewing experience you’ll have. Be prepared for something rather special as Kevin and Matthew McManus are clearly filmmakers to keep a close eye on.
The Block Island Sound was reviewed at Fantasia 2020.
The Block Island Sound arrives on Netflix on 11th March 2021.
The Block Island Sound
Summary
With The Block Island Sound, the McManus Brothers assert that they are two of the most interesting new voices on the genre scene, and should be watched very closely. Go into The Block Island Sound blind and let the full breadth of the experience (including epic sound design and score) wash over you.
