Tone Deaf

However, some odd nightmare scenes don’t work. Harvey continually has nightmares that are a performance art variety, involving the manifestations of everything he hates about Millennials. On their own, these scenes are hilarious and flawlessly designed from an art, set, and production vantage point. However, the audience is already aware of the character’s state of mind because of the monologues, so these scenes don’t serve much purpose. Then there are the odd ghostly apparitions that both Olive and Harvey occasionally see, but never really come into play.

I have enjoyed Richard Bates Jr.’s other movies but had a hard time connecting with Tone Deaf. However, I absolutely know that for some audience members, the crazy tonal shifts and pure insanity of the plot will be the very reasons they love it. On the other hand though. The take no prisoners style and tone are going to turn off other viewers. For me, I loved the acting, the cinematography, and individual sequences work stunningly. The whole does not equal the sum of its parts.

Tone Deaf (2019) Directed by Richard Bates Jr. Written by Richard Bates Jr. Starring Amanda Crew, Robert Patrick, Ronnie Gene Blevins, Hayley Marie Norman, Heidi Kaufman, Ray Wise. Tone Deaf screened at the 2019 SXSW Film Festival.

6.5 out of 10 Tomahawks