Things Heard and Seen: More Than A Ghost Story (Netflix)

This movie is a difficult one to categorize.  It's being marketed as a gothic horror ghost story, but it's primarily about a failing marriage.  It's also a morality tale of sorts.  The ghost story aspect is in the background, but it definitely adds a positive – although scary – component to the film.  The movie is based on the novel "All Things Cease to Appear" by Elizabeth Brundage and is written and directed by a married couple, Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini. Catherine and George Claire (Amanda Seyfried and James Norton) at first appear to be a happy couple on the way to fulfilling their dreams.  They live in Manhattan and have a seven-year-old daughter, Franny.  Catherine is an art restorer while George recently received his PhD.  George has just gotten a job at a small Hudson River Valley college as an Asst. Art Professor.  Although reluctant to move, Catherine feels she owes this to George and anticipates that everything will work out fine.  The only cloud on the horizon is that Catherine has an eating disorder. George finds a wonderful 18th-century home near the college, although it needs some work.  Strange things start to happen, however, shortly after they move in.  Lights start to buzz, electrical appliances go on by themselves, items from the former residents are discovered, and Catherine can feel that there may be spirits living there.  Catherine hires Eddie (Alex Neustaedter) and his brother to help with the grounds-keeping, but they have an important relationship with the house of which Catherine is unaware.  George dismisses Catherine's concerns about spirits, although the Art Dept. Head, Dr. Floyd DeBeers (F. Murray Abraham), believes in ghosts and reassures Catherine that she isn't going crazy. George isn't quite the knight in shining armor he initially appears to be, and the fault lines in their marriage soon turn into chasms.  I won't say any more about the plot, but the film has some terrific scenes, at times is scary and suspenseful, and will hold your interest throughout.  There is one very gory scene, but it is very short and you can close your eyes (like Robin did) without missing anything important.  Seyfried gives a terrific performance, although, with this type of movie, I doubt that she has "a ghost of a chance" to receive any acting award nominations.  Rhea Seehorn (a.k.a. Kim in "Better Call Saul") is also exceptional as Catherine's friend, Justine.