Amanda Seyfried’s Things Heard & Seen Is an Underrated Psychological Thriller Gem

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Recently, a few good thrillers have come out, like the gripping film Drop (2025) and the unique and intriguing story of Caddo Lake (2024). To satisfy thriller fans, these movies generally need to deliver a strong mystery or build plenty of suspense. When it comes to psychological thrillers, the story should really dig into the characters’ inner struggles and emotions to create tension.

Many psychological thrillers disappoint, failing to truly connect with viewers on an emotional level. However, some lesser-known films in the genre offer a different experience, leaving you wondering if you actually enjoyed what you watched. Things Heard & Seen was initially promoted as a ghost story, but it works better as a psychological thriller – a film that makes you think and explores complex relationships and feelings.

Things Heard & Seen Is an Underrated Psychological Thriller

Many consider Things Heard & Seen to be one of the year’s worst films, with critics and audiences finding its complicated plot confusing and unresolved. However, some viewers disagree, arguing that the film deserves recognition for its meaningful themes and powerful story, which are enhanced by its ambiguous ending. While it doesn’t deliver the typical scares advertised in the trailers, the film effectively creates a sense of unsettling despair within a family’s home.

The story follows Catherine Claire (Amanda Seyfried), an art restorer who sacrifices her thriving career in New York City when she moves with her husband, George (James Norton), and their daughter to a quiet town upstate. George is starting a new job as an art history professor, but the couple is already facing problems. Catherine struggles with bulimia, and George isn’t supportive of her mental health. Hoping for a fresh start, Catherine believes the move could improve their troubled relationship. Instead, they find themselves in an old house filled with unsettling secrets and a growing sense of dread, leading them to turn against each other and conceal increasingly damaging secrets – including affairs and deep resentment.

The movie Things Heard & Seen creates a sense of dread, hinting at a tragic event between George and Cath without revealing it until the very end. It expertly builds tension as the unhappy couple’s frustrations grow, leaving viewers unsure who will finally reach their breaking point. The film powerfully depicts the destructive consequences of a relationship turned sour, going beyond simple heartbreak to portray true devastation. A ghostly haunting serves as a metaphor for the emotional baggage – secrets, lies, and resentment – that haunts George and Cath.

Unfortunately, This Netflix Thriller Fails As a Paranormal Horror

While many criticisms have been leveled at Things Heard & Seen, a common one is that it doesn’t succeed as a scary, paranormal movie. The film draws on familiar haunted house tropes, much like The Amityville Horror, suggesting a tragic past can create a terrifying haunting and blur the lines between the living world and the spirit world. However, the ghostly elements felt secondary because the movie primarily focused on the breakdown of George and Cath’s relationship and the dangerous fallout from their conflict.

When the family settles into their new farmhouse, Cath immediately feels like something isn’t right. Her suspicions are confirmed by George’s colleague, Floyd DeBeers, who is a believer in the supernatural. Floyd suggests they try to communicate with the ghost of a woman who was murdered in the house. While they do make contact, the spirit refuses to leave, and they soon discover another, more malicious ghost is also present. Throughout the movie, the ghosts make their presence known in subtle ways, like strange smells and the radio turning on by itself.

Often, viewers miss that the ghosts in the film aren’t the main point – they actually highlight the troubled relationship between Cath and George. While it seems like the ghosts are controlling their actions, it’s really a way of showing Cath’s fears about George and George’s angry thoughts about Cath. The ghost story—about a man who killed his wife and then himself—is an extended metaphor for how a marriage can be damaged by societal pressures and mental health issues, ultimately influencing how a couple behaves towards each other.

The Film’s Social Commentary Is Exceptionally Incorporated

The filmmakers deliberately set Things Heard & Seen in the past, not simply to avoid modern conveniences. The early 1980s were a time of growing awareness about gender inequality, as the second-wave feminist movement had been active for about twenty years. Discussions during the Civil Rights Movement had already begun to address issues women faced in their personal lives, including domestic violence and the pressures within marriage.

While not one of her most famous roles, this film is a surprisingly good showcase of the actress’s talent. The character of Cath is beautifully portrayed as both a creative and spiritual person deeply connected to her heritage. However, the film also realistically depicts her struggles with mental health, stemming not only from her husband’s lack of support but also from the societal expectations placed on women. The story powerfully illustrates how women were often pressured to sacrifice their own goals and dreams to prioritize their husbands and families.

James Norton delivers a key performance as George, the husband in this suspenseful thriller that explores themes of societal pressure and manipulation. George consistently lies – about his qualifications as a college instructor and his talent as an artist, among other things. Despite his flaws and the discomfort he causes, the character highlights the damaging effects of traditional gender roles. Even though George isn’t the most skilled or intelligent person in his relationship, he wrongly believes – and feels entitled to believe – that he should be the most important member of his family simply because he’s the man of the house.

Things Heard & Seen Capitalizes on Its Slow-Burn Plot

While not essential, a gradual build-up of suspense is a common feature in many thrillers. These stories often thrive on mystery and tension, keeping audiences guessing by leading them down different paths. However, some thriller fans prefer faster-paced, action-filled plots over slower, more deliberate ones.

As a horror fan, I was really hoping Things Heard & Seen would deliver a genuinely spooky experience, but honestly, it just didn’t quite hit the mark. The biggest issue for me was that the story felt… predictable. By the end, everything felt a little too straightforward, like the plot wasn’t built with a lot of care. It’s such a shame, because the truly great films stay with you, making you think and analyze long after you’ve seen them. Those are the ones you want to rewatch, picking up on details and appreciating the cleverness of the storytelling. That’s where this one fell short.

While Things Heard & Seen tries to combine a ghostly story with a tense marriage, it works best when you understand it’s less about scares and more about deeper ideas. If you go in expecting a typical horror movie, you might be let down. But if you see it as a thoughtful look at society and its expectations, it’s a really compelling psychological thriller.

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2025-10-21 00:07