This month, Mill Creek is releasing a couple of new double-feature Blu-rays. One of these brings together the two White Noise thrillers from the mid-2000s. While these films have previously been available on Blu-ray separately or in combo packs with other films, this is the first time both films have been available together on one Blu-ray release.
The films are as follows:
White Noise (2005)
It looks like everything is going well for architect Jonathan Rivers (Michael Keaton). He’s happily mrried for the second time and his wife Anna (Chandra West) has just discovered that she’s pregnant with their first child. However, when Anna goes missing and is eventually found dead weeks later, Jonathan is left devastated. He soon meets Raymond Price (Ian McNeice, Doc Martin), who claims that he has been receiving messages from Anna from the other side. Jonathan scoffs at this notion, but after seeing some strange things, and receiving static-filled calls from Anna’s cell phone number, he decides to listen to what Raymond has to say. Raymond introduces him to the concept of EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena), a way of recording and detuning messages from the dead, disguised in static on radio and TV. However, Johnathan soon becomes more and more obsessed with trying to communicate with his dead wife, and by the time he realizes the dangerous supernatural repercussions of his actions, it may be too late to stop what has been set in motion.
White Noise 2 (2007)
After his wife and son are seemingly-randomly murdered, Abe Dale (Nathan Fillion, Firefly) becomes so distraught that he doesn’t want to live anymore. The doctors are able to reach him in time and save his life, but he experiences an NDE (Near Death Experience), seeing a blinding white light as he dies for just a moment before being revived. At the hospital, he meets nurse Sherry Clarke (Katee Sackhoff, Battlestar Galactica) and Dr. Karras (William MacDonald). The doctor has been doing a side research project on NDEs and EVPs. Ever since his brush with death, Abe has been hearing noises, and seeing flashing lights. He also notices bright glowing auras around random people he passes. Normally EVPs need to be recorded first in order to hear the messages from the dead, but Abe’s NDE has turned him into a human detuned receiver, able to see/hear these messages directly. Abe also notices that the people he sees with a glowing aura are winding up dead a few days later, and so he decides to use his newfound powers to help save these people. However, his actions start to lead to even deadlier consequences, forcing him to choose between two evils.
I’m not sure that I had seen either of these White Noise films when they were originally released—if I had, I didn’t remember anything abut them. The first movie sets up this interesting premise, basing it on the real EVP phenomenon that many people believe in. Jonathan is a grieving man who sees this as a way to contact his dead wife. However his obsession starts to grow, and this puts him in a dangerous position as there are also evil spirits at play using EVP to reach out into the real world. While there are some nice jump scares and creepy/interesting visuals, the story and characters don’t really feel fully fleshed out. Jonathan seems to accept this EVP phenomenon almost immediately simply because he receives a static-filled phone call from his wife’s cell phone number. Raymond Price is just a random stranger who appeared to be stalking him at first, and doesn’t really have any credentials, and yet Jonathan immediately jumps down the rabbit hole with him. Maybe it’s his grief that’s clouding his judgement, but this isn’t really explored. The story also takes a drastic and confusing turn in the final act, one that doesn’t make a lot of sense. Some of that may be due to the editing—in the bonus material there is an extended cut of one of the final sequences that had been edited down to reach a PG-13 rating, and I think some of the explanation of what was going on was lost in that final cut. Overall, Michael Keaton gives a strong, emotional performance, and paranormal fans will probably enjoy the premise and concepts of the film, but it’s not one I’ll likely revisit often.
I actually enjoyed White Noise 2 a lot more than the first film. It takes the EVP concepts introduced in the original film, and rather than just copy the premise with a new character, it actually expands on this mythology, bringing in NDEs and religion. We start off with the same idea of a grieving man trying to reconnect with his family, but this time he’s brought into this world of EVP and NDE by a more accredited and reliable source. Abe tries to make sense out of the senseless deaths of his family by trying to save other people, preventing the deaths he has precognitions about. However, he doesn’t realize there are dark forces as work, and that by saving one person, he may actually be harming far more innocent people in the process. The film does a nice job of slowly building the tension, throwing in some misdirects and twists, and giving a few jump scares as Abe vividly experiences the EVPs. Some of the special effects feel slightly dated, such as Abe floating in the air while experiencing his NDE, but or the most part the film holds up well. Like the first movie, I wasn’t a huge fan of the final act, but this one at least made more sense. There is an included deleted scene that I think could have helped to improve the ending. Nathan Fillion makes an interesting lead, and he has good on-screen chemistry with co-star Katee Sackhoff.
The technical presentation of both films in pretty solid. The first movie ranges from really bright to really dark scenes, but both remain clean and clear with a solid level of detail throughout. The second film looks a bit grittier, especially with all the flashing lights and glowing auras, but the picture still remains pleasing. In both films, dialogue remains clear throughout, and the surround channel is well-utilized at times to provide a more immersive experience. This is especially noticeable in the final act of the first film as everything comes to a head, and in the second film, during rainy sequences, and as Abe first heads outside with his newfound powers and hears the distorted sounds of the busy city.
Both films reside on a single Blu-ray disc, placed in a standard HD keepcase without a slipcover or digital copy. Most of the bonus material from Universal’s previous releases of these titles has actually been carried over this time! (I believe only a trailer has been left off.) For the first film, the bonus material consists of nearly 10 minutes of deleted scenes, a director/star commentary, and nearly 30 minutes of featurettes following the work of some real paranormal investigators/EVP experts. I didn’t really care for the featurettes as I’m not a big believer of this EVP stuff, but it was nice to have the commentary and the deleted scenes (with commentary). For the second film, the bonus material includes over 30 minutes of deleted scenes, 2 behind-the-scenes featurettes, and a 15-minute featurette following some NDE experts and survivors.
What’s Included:
Films:
- White Noise (2005) (1:37:54)
- 1080p / Widescreen 2.35:1
- Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
- Subtitles: English SDH
- White Noise 2 (2007) (1:39:03)
- 1080p / Widescreen 1.85:1
- Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
- Subtitles: English SDH
Extras:
- White Noise
- Deleted Scenes (9:35)
Collection of 5 deleted/alternate/ extended scenes play back-to-back. Includes “Sc. 8 John Drives to Work”, “Sc. 18 John Reports Anna Missing”, “Sc. 110aA Bar Scene (contains temporary voiceover)”, “Sc. 158 Balcony Hit”, and “Sc. 193aA Shocking Twists”. Presented in windowboxed format, nd offered with and without audio commentary by director Geoffrey Sax. - Hearing Is Believing: Actual EVP Session (14:33)
Host Jim Moret follows paranormal investigators Tom and Lisa Butler as they visit a haunted castle in the Hollywood Hills and then to a Chicago night club with a rich history of paranormal activity. Presented in 4:3 format. - Making Contact: EVP Experts (8:41)
Members of the the AA-EVP (American Association of Electronic Voice Phenomena) discuss their work and some of their experiences. Presented in 4:3 format. - Recording the Afterlife at Home (4:26)
Tom and Lisa Butler Give tips on how to record EVP at home. Presented in 4:3 format. - Commentary w/ Director Geoffrey Sax and Michael Keaton (1:37:54)
Director Geoffrey Sax and star Michael Keaton discuss the film and provide behind-the scenes stories about the production.
- Deleted Scenes (9:35)
- White Noise 2
- Deleted Scenes (33:48)
Collection of 13 deleted/extended scenes play back-to-back. Includes “Extended Funeral Scene”, “Extended/Deleted Abe & Marty Talk, Suicide, Ambulance & Hospital Scenes”, “Extended Conference Room Scene”, “Extended Abe & Marty Office Scene”, “Extended Abe & Marty ‘Superpower’ Scene”, “Extended Grocery Store, Tattoo Man Scenes (Temp Offline VFX)”, “Extended Grocery Store, Tattoo Man Scenes (Original Dailies – No Temp Offline VFX)”, “Extended Abe & Sherry Hospital Scene”, “Extended Abe & Julia Scene”, “Extended Sherry At Abe’s Door Scene”, “Extended Sherry Phone Call Scene”, “Deleted Scene – Liz Meets Kurt in Hotel Lobby” and “Extended Abe & Family Reunion Ending”. - Exploring Near-Death Experience (14:56)
Dr. Jeffrey Long, M.D., founder of the Near-Death Experience Research Foundation, and survivors of NDEs discuss their experiences. - The Making of White Noise 2 (8:36)
The cast and crew discuss how the sequel expands upon the EVP phenomenon introduced in the first film, weaving in religion, the special effects, the chemistry between Nathan and Katee, the stunts, and more. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with director Patrick Lussier, executive producer Paul Brooks, producer Shawn Williamson, special make-up effects Gary Tunnicliffe, and stars Nathan Fillian (“Abe Dale”’), Katee Sackhoff (“Sherry Clarke”), William MacDonald (“Dr. Karras”) & David Milchard (“Kurt”). - Journey Into Madness (6:00)
Star Nathan Fillian and location production assistant Barbara Copp take viewers on a tour of the haunted mental facility used for the film.
- Deleted Scenes (33:48)
Final Thoughts:
Mill Creek Entertainment’s new double-feature Blu-ray of White Noise and White Noise 2 is a great release for fans of the franchise, bringing both movies together for the first time on Blu-ray, with solid picture and sound, and including all of the previously-released bonus material for both films. While I wasn’t a huge fan of the final act of the first movie, I enjoyed the second film a lot more, and the way it was able to build on the concepts of the first movie without becoming just a copy. This is an easy recommendation for fans of the films or fans of paranormal thrillers in general.
White Noise Double Feature: White Noise, White Noise 2 [Blu-ray]
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