‘Daddy never knows best.’
Listen Carefully is a 2024 horror film about a troubled assistant bank manager whose baby daughter goes missing. To save her he he must obey the chilling commands of a mysterious voice on a baby monitor.
The movie was written, directed, and co-produced by and stars Ryan Barton-Grimley. It was also produced by Simone Barton-Grimley, and Ari Schneider and executive produced by Joel M. Schneider.
The RBG Films-Clumsy Tiger Productions co-production also stars Ari Schneider, Simone Barton-Grimley, David Rickabaugh, Richard Gayler and Patrick Pankhurst.
Reviews:
“There’s ample horror to be explored in a new parent’s paranoia mixed with sleep deprivation. With a little more finessing and a co-director to guide Barton-Grimley through McNeary’s emotional journey, Listen Carefully could stand on shaky toddler legs one day. Much like the newborn baby in the film, unfortunately, it’s just not fully developed yet.” Creepy Kingdom
“The complexities of embezzling from a bank are separately addressed, giving Andy a little more depth as a character, which is all the more important because he spends a lot of his time alone except for the voice. This would require serious work from any actor, and Barton-Grimley is not up to the task, with even his parental terror failing to convince. He’s okay as director and has a few interesting ideas, but the film never really comes together.” ★★ Eye for Film
“When Schneider begins to give Andy orders, suddenly the innocent bird’s facade is adorned with an evil villain’s voice, transforming the lifeless plastic ornament into an all-powerful antagonist. The juxtaposition is hilarious, especially when the foul language and threats start pouring in […] this was an ice-cold refreshment for the genre. It’s well-paced, weird and wonderful.” ★★★½ Fear Forever
“Listen Carefully sends both Andy and viewers down a path in which reality and dreams intermingle to the point of being unsure which is which. Ryan Barton-Grimley keeps Andy’s anxiety level, along with the film’s suspense and mystery, at a high pitch. Viewers who lean into the lunacy should find Ryan Barton-Grimley’s darkly humorous, blood-soaked, nightmare-fueled Listen Carefully to be a brain-jarring blast.” Horror Fuel
“Usually, chaotic misdirection causes the viewer to lose interest in the original intent of the film. Listen Carefully tries to get away with this through various states, but it starts to deviate too much from why we are invested in the kidnapping in the first place. Listen Carefully could have worked as a short film, but the longer narrative is missing some key ingredients.” ★★ Horror Movies Uncut
“Director Ryan Baton-Grimley delivers a solid performance as Andy with all his anxiety, frustration, fear and anger at the things he’s expected to do and the events unfolding around him. He’s really put through the ringer and driven to the brink of madness trying to get his daughter Abby back. The film never quite goes where you expect it and has some moments of unexpected humor as well as moments that are anxiety-inducing.” Pop Horror
“I liked that the film never really finishes its story, there is false end after false end all the way to the end credits […] Andy and the small supporting cast all had their roles to play, combining to make a paranoid and desperate quest that might have left me confused, but was also a unique and weird baby monitor themed journey through the worst night of a man’s life.” 7/10 The Rotting Zombie
Trailer:
Cast and characters:
Ryan Barton-Grimley … Andy; Ari Schneider … The Voice; Simone Barton-Grimley … Allie; David Rickabaugh … The Man in the Suit; Richard Gayler … Thomas ‘The Janitor’; Patrick Pankhurst … George Jansen
Country of origin:
United States
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