Rebecca Hall is otherwordly in icy, complex The Listeners – review
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Hysteria can seem almost enchanting at times. Take the bizarre "dancing plague" of 1518, when countless people in Alsace began to dance uncontrollably, or the "laughing epidemic" that affected people in colonial Tanzania in 1962. These strange shared experiences can have a profound impact, even if they feel unsettling. This tension is at the heart of BBC One's new four-part series, The Listeners, which follows an unexpected group of individuals who come together in response to an unexplained sound, even as their personal lives fall apart.
Claire (Rebecca Hall) works as a teacher at an upscale school in the countryside of England. She leads a calm, routine life with her husband, Paul (Prasanna Puwanarajah), and their daughter, Ashley (Mia Tharia). Her existence is fairly straightforward—almost dull—until she begins to notice a persistent, low humming sound. After visiting audiologists, they assure her that her hearing is fine, suggesting the noise could be linked to early menopause or stress. “There’s nothing wrong with me medically,” she sighs, “so it must mean something else...” Despite what the doctors say, Claire is convinced the sound isn’t just a figment of her imagination. Her intuition is validated when her most difficult student, Kyle (Ollie West), admits he hears it too. Together, they dive into a community of individuals who are fixated on this mysterious noise that will drastically change their lives.
Claire discovers a group of fellow sufferers, guided by the mysterious Omar (Amr Waked) and his seemingly more relatable partner, Jo (Gayle Rankin). However, what worries her more is her ongoing connection with young Kyle, marked by late-night texts, extended car rides, and trips to secluded locations. Canadian author Jordan Tannahill, who adapts his own book, begins by delving into the story of a woman affected by a psychological ordeal, but the narrative soon evolves into a deeper examination of emotional collapse. “We’re trying to understand this,” Claire says to her daughter. “This is the end, Mom,” Ashley responds, “you’ve reached it.”
American filmmaker Janicza Bravo has become a favorite in the indie film community, known for collaborating with Lena Dunham and for directing Zola, notable for being the first film inspired by a Twitter thread. Her latest project, The Listeners, seems more suited for the competitive atmosphere of SXSW than for a mainstream airing on BBC One. It carries a stark visual style, evoking a chilliness reminiscent of creators like Ari Aster and Robert Eggers. The overall tone suggests a strong influence from the horror genre, with unsettling sound design and music that play a crucial role in the narrative. As Claire's troubled mind unravels, unconventional visual elements come into play. The characters have a stylish, almost curated appearance, reminiscent of a Toast magazine, yet they inhabit a world that lacks the polished aesthetic often seen on social media.
A significant part of the story’s impact, focusing on a woman teetering on the brink of a nervous breakdown, heavily relies on Rebecca Hall’s striking presence. No one uses their neck quite like Hall, and Director Bravo cleverly showcases this almost otherworldly quality to craft scenes that intertwine her remarkable physicality with deep emotional turmoil. These almost artistic shots of Hall might lead some viewers to interpret the constant background noise—a central plot device—as merely symbolic. Nevertheless, the drama leans on its foundational concept to drive the story forward. Despite the inherent beauty, there is an underlying chill to *The Listeners*. Claire is detached and cynical; Paul is cold and unsympathetic; Kyle is intense and unwavering.
This suggests that viewers looking for a sci-fi story—like The Midwich Cuckoos, which also presents a more abstract version of England—might leave feeling dissatisfied. If the source of the hum itself isn’t an engaging puzzle, the human interactions are just as unclear. Claire struggles with her emotions as she grapples with her own discontent. She tells Paul, “Our life is good, but it’s also quite limited.” Many shows with artistic ambitions don’t deliver straightforward solutions, but The Listeners doesn’t even provide simple questions. The main inquiry of “what is the hum?” seems to lose significance. Whether it’s taken literally or symbolically, the focus is on the limitations that the noise breaks down.
The Listeners can be tough to get through, but it definitely offers rewards for those who stick with it. Bravo and Tannahill have crafted a surreal experience that uses genre elements to tell a roundabout story about human behavior. It asks important questions: What are our desires? How do we achieve them? What sacrifices might we have to make? Rather than being simple entertainment, The Listeners presents a multifaceted narrative about connection and separation.
You can find The Listeners on BBC iPlayer.
