Listening (2014)

A team of genius-but-broke grad students invent mind-reading technology that destroys their lives and threatens the future of free will itself.

Director:

Khalil Sullins

Writer:

Khalil Sullins

Stars:

Thomas Stroppel, Artie Ahr, Amber Marie Bollinger

2 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Thomas Stroppel	...	David Thorogood
Artie Ahr	...	Ryan Cates
Amber Marie Bollinger	...	Jordan
Christine Haeberman	...	Melanie
Steve Hanks	...	Matthews
Arn Chorn-Pond	...	Head Monk
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Alexenko	...	Detective
Araceli Almaguer	...	Scientist
Dave Bean	...	Listener
Sarah Beguiristain	...	Waitress
Pamela Cedar	...	Sharon
Kalim Chandler	...	Young Scientist
Timothy Lee Conley	...	Frank
Jonathan Cousens	...	Listener (as Jonathan Adam Cousens)
J.R. Craig	...	Police Officer

Storyline

A team of genius-but-broke grad students invent mind-reading technology that destroys their lives and threatens the future of free will itself.

---

Plot Keywords:

low budget sci fi movie | technology | fainting | divorce papers | playground | 

---

Taglines:

Hide your thoughts

---

Genres:

Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Parts of the Buddhist monk scenes were shot on location at Ankor Watt Temple in Cambodia.

---

Goofs

While sitting on the porch, Jordan's legs go from crossed to uncrossed and then back again.

---

Connections

References Batman (1943)

---

Soundtracks

This Magic Moment
Written by Doc Pomus (uncredited) and Mort Shuman (uncredited)
Performed by The Drifters
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

User Reviews

better than the rating suggests but not top tier

Not a bad premise for a movie, and it's production value is pretty good. However it's not highly rated for a reason. Where this movie falls part is not so much in the concept per say, but in the expression of it. The script writing is not B rated, but it surely isn't driving the story. There are parts where you wonder, if it had better acting would the script have come off better. As it stands there are some parts where it seems amateurish both in the writing and the acting. There are some movies where bad actors can be uplifted by a good script (matrix) and rarely good actors can pump up a bad script (think Ray Harryhausen or any martial arts movie). This film is neither and they both seem to sink each other equally. As the writing degrades so goes the acting, as none of the actors were good enough to hold it up. Yet in the instances where the script is good the bad acting isn't so apparent. What makes the movie watchable is the concept. The concept of what they are trying to discuss and it's moral implications draw your interest. It helps set a frame work that at least makes the movie watchable. It would be interesting to know the total budget of this movie. It surely isn't block buster...but it also does not appear on the low end like a Primer. Although I think the movie would have been better suited to have more of a primer set up, disusing things cryptically and leaving in some mystery till you get into the movie. IF you like sci fi movies it's a decent sci fi watch on a boring night with nothing else to do. However, I wouldn't go dropping $7 on a ticket for it.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA Cambodia

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 September 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

Listening

Filming Locations:

Cambodia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Listen Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1