Becoming a parent can be scary some people. For the character of Andy McNeary in the new thriller, LISTEN CAREFULLY, fatherhood is downright terrifying. Writer/Director/Star Ryan Barton-Grimley’s atmospheric horror film was unleashed on the world December 16, 2024. It is now available to put you on edge this holiday season.
LISTEN CAREFULLY is a truly unpredictable experience that will have you anxiously anticipating what could possibly happen next. It’s like reliving a bad dream you never had. That’s appropriate since Barton-Grimley attributes a post-baby nightmare as the inspiration for this trippy cinematic journey.
The Plot: When troubled assistant bank manager Andy McNeary’s baby daughter goes missing, he must follow the instructions of a mysterious voice on the other end of a baby monitor to save her before she disappears and his life is ruined forever…and that’s not the half of it.
What makes LISTEN CAREFULLY engaging from the start is the sense of the unknown. Why is this bespectacled man running through dirty, industrial alleys? Why is he being pursued by a gang of hoodie-clad pursuers in baby masks? The grimy green hue of the cinematography adds to the sense of dread. The eery baby cooing sounds echoing off the empty streets does as well. As a child I had a dream about a Catholic priest walking zombie-like toward me while speaking with the high-pitched voice of baby. So, you better believe I was instantly weirded out.
Of course this creepy imagery ends up being part of a dream. The nightmare is just beginning for Andy McNeary (Ryan Barton-Grimley). I did not see the main plot twist coming after Andy’s wife leaves for a night out with the girls. We find the father left alone to look after his infant child finds the baby has been kidnapped. As a father of three myself, this one definitely hit home. Especially since my own children have spent the last few months asking, “What’s your biggest fear, Dad?” Now I can just show them LISTEN CAREFULLY.
So you say you’re not a parent? What could LISTEN CAREFULLY have to offer you in terms of entertainment? The extortion plot presented in the film is surprisingly inventive and like nothing you’ve seen before. Andy begins receiving instructions through a baby monitor from “The Voice” (Ari Schneider). The extortionist delights in taunting the desperate father, trying to break the mild-mannered father’s spirit while his daughter cries through the tiny speaker. Schneider is a perfect, cocky villain and often makes you wish Andy could just reach through the monitor and strangle the little punk.
Ryan Barton-Grimley is a fascinating protagonist in that his appearance reminds one of Jim Gaffigan by way of Dwight Schrute from The Office, but the events prompt an evolution into more than just a pencil-necked pushover. This is evident as as complications arise and Andy has to improvise.
In particular, Andy’s confrontation with a shady janitor played by Richard Taylor, provides an interesting turning point where the assistant bank manager grapples with trying to assert himself in a setting where he is often found powerless, as made clear in an earlier scene where the stern, but aloof bank manager reluctantly leaves the bank business in Andy’s hands.
Though perhaps not an obvious spot to find artistry, the sections of Andy driving around town to multiple ATM locations to gather up the ransom money were executed in such a way as to evoke that loopy feeling one has after a late night out, driving home when it seem like everyone is asleep but you. It’s unsettling to say the least.
After some mishaps involving the money and a run-in with a talkative police officer, the audience begins to feel sorry for Andy’s plight, though he may not be totally innocent after all. Nevertheless, the tension grows as the emasculation from the other end of the baby monitor continues, and the extorted man begins devising his own plan to take revenge on the kidnapper.
Finally reaching the drop-off point for the exchange of baby for cash, Andy has had enough. Pushed too far, a bloody, mind-bending finale ensues. Once again, the green hue present throughout the film delivers an atmosphere of unreality, even as the climax reaches a fever pitch.
LISTEN CAREFULLY successfully provides everything a viewer could want from an indie horror thriller. An auteur’s vision filled with unique and personal story beats, an engaging, unlikely protagonist and lo-fi production values that still pack a punch. It’s a film you won’t soon forget.
LISTEN CAREFULLY is available to stream now on Amazon Prime or Apple TV.
Next: Discuss Listen Carefully on our Film Forum
