Written by director Sam Mason-Bell, star Annabella Rich, and Jackson Batchelor, Incessant is a horror thriller. Gina (Rich) and Ed (Chris Mills) abscond to a cabin in the woods. The mini-vacation is for the couple to disconnect and focus on themselves and their teetering relationship. This manifests itself as partaking in a copious amount of drugs, dancing manically while high, and arguing over Ed constantly checking his phone due to an important business deal about to go through.
Unfortunately, just as it seems Gina and Ed have had a breakthrough, an incessant noise begins. At first, only Ed hears it, giving him sleepless nights and a hazy memory. But soon, Gina’s bothered by the constant discord as well. What is causing the racket? Will the noise drive Ed and Gina to madness, or can they survive together and emerge stronger and more in love than ever?
Given the importance of noise to the story of Incessant, it is given that the sound mixing and design need to be strong. Ben Farrant, who also composed the incredible score, delivers big time. The sound bounces between regular levels, deafening volumes, and eerie annoyance with ease. The sound work conveys what Gina and Ed are going through and makes the film much creepier and more effective.
“…the noise drive[s] Ed and Gina to madness…”
Also of note is the special make-up effects. As the mysterious and creepy events unfold, the leads find abrasions and lesions all over their bodies. The make-up is convincingly gross. The editing is also quite good. Ed believes the noise is coming from his phone in the bedroom and tries to silence it. Meanwhile, Gina is comfortable on the couch. These two scenarios are interwoven to maximum character traits and their ongoing arcs. The following scene, about soup, is oddly amusing.
Acting-wise, Incessant is a home run. Audiences instantly empathize with Rich, while Mills brings charisma to a hard-to-like character. The two share good chemistry that sells their relationship from the beginning. Chris Riley Ellis is the only other performer on screen. His part is small, but he is scary.
Incessant is a frightening odyssey into a dysfunctional relationship. The outside horror that befalls them, the incessant noise, only exacerbates the couple’s issues. Mills and Rich are splendid, while the make-up punctuates the characters’ messed up situation. Most importantly, though, the sound design and mixing are fabulous. While the noise drives the main characters crazy, the plot keeps viewers glued to the screen.
"…a home run."
