Mikes Film Talk

Directed, edited and co-written by Justin Paul Miller (Sam Zvibleman was the other scribe on the film) “The Sound and the Shadow” is Miller’s first feature length film and stars Mary Kate Wiles and Joseph E. Murray as an odd couple pairing of two disparate roommates with Wiles playing a sort of millennial “Nancy Drew.” This comedy/ mystery is brilliant entertainment from the first frame.

Ally (Wiles) is a young woman seeking to share an apartment or rent a room. She meets Harold (Murray) who rents her a room in his home. The two are complete opposites. Ally is open, quirky and vivacious while Harold suffers from a plethora of allergies and records life and his neighbors rather than interacting with them in person.

Soon after Ally moves in with Harold a small girl goes missing from the neighborhood.  As the police search for the child, Ally pushes for information to find the girl and Harold reluctantly agrees to help.   Harold’s tenant is fascinated by the missing neighbor’s child  and in her mission to learn what happened Ally pushes her landlord way past his comfort zone.

Harold is socially inept mainly due to his self imposed isolation. While the man is pretty much a prisoner because of his allergies, Harold is a sound engineer who is able to focus on his recordings and pick up clues about the missing girl while “spying” on his neighbors.

Ally is a mix of  wide-eyed enthusiasm combined with a healthy pessimistic attitude that she is not afraid to share with her friend Kyle (Alex Anfanger) or Harold.  She pushes for “Harry” to investigate the clues he picks up with his recordings and he finally agrees to join the amateur detective in the hunt. 

“The Sound and the Shadow” can best be described as a buddy picture, where a 20 something free spirit teams up with her allergy suffering landlord to work on a kidnapping case. Along the way, Ally reveals that she is willing to take risks to save a young girl’s life and Harold has a secret that he shares with his new young friend.

Wiles is the main attraction in this film. Her character is quirky and fun, if not a little too direct and morbid.  For example, when discussing the missing Pearl (Holly Sambas) Ally lectures Harold on the likelihood on finding the child dead and dismembered. She also warns “Harry” (a shortening of Harold’s name that he abhors) about finding little baby heads all over the place. 

In many ways Ally is a cross between a pragmatic millennial “Nancy Drew” and a optimistic “Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm.”  Harold’s closest literary namesake, and personality type, would have to be Eeyore, the downcast and depressed donkey from Winnie the Pooh. These opposites bond and make a great comic pair of sleuths who fall out as much continually.

The interactions between Wiles and Murray works brilliantly.  Their chemistry is perfect. Harold’s uncomfortable reactions to almost everything that comes out of Ally’s mouth is all about annoyed exasperation, initially and later reluctant acceptance.

Both of these complete opposites prove to be fearless in their search for Pearl and her abductor. As they struggle to put all the pieces together to solve the neighborhood mystery each affects the other in unlikely ways.

The cinematography by Michael Dwyer conveys moods with lighting and a precise framing of each scene.  The nighttime set pieces are perfectly presented so action is easily seen and not lost in overly dark shadows.

Over and above the superb performances of Wiles and Murray there is the story and all the characters in the film.  Ally’s enthusiasm to solve the mystery is infectious; sweeping up the viewer much faster than her onscreen roommate.

At 90 minutes, this film has a cracking pace.  The plot throws enough twists and turns to keep the most devout armchair detective happy and the evolution of both characters is funny, entertaining and slightly poignant.

There are a number of odd and interesting neighbors and potential suspects in the film and many  fall firmly into the suspect range.

“The Sound and the Shadow” is a film that entertains on many levels. It is a comedy that deals with number of issues and offers up a brilliant set of characters and clues.   Ally is adorably quirky, fun and nerdy  in the film and Wiles brings the girl to life effortlessly.

MarVista are releasing “The Sound and the Shadow” on April 19 via digital HD and On Demand.  This is five star entertainment. A film with interesting and amusing  characters that keep the interest  and move the story forward. Watch this one and discover the brilliance of Mary Kate Wiles and become a fan.