Sound of My Voice is a quiet understated film about the psychology of a cult. It’s quick, but the effect seems to happen slowly and masterfully. Peter, a filmmaker, infiltrates a cult in order to make a documentary on the subject. This particular cult is lead by a woman named Maggie who claims to be from the future. She’s eccentric, slightly out there, heavenly and brutally honest. She speaks of a future in which food is a scarce privilege and music is a rarity. Peter is slightly desperate disguised as curious and he wants to believe Maggie is who she claims.
The best thing about The Sound of My Voice is Brit Marling. She’s a magnificent presence and singlehandedly carries the film. The length of Voice lends itself to the fact that there’s really not much that can be said here. There are no answers. It’s not science fiction. It’s just a very low frills vignette with a wonderful lead actress and a questionable ending that will either completely engross you, or completely turn you off. It’s a film that blurs the lines between desperation and genuine belief.
In the end, the film feels a bit irrelevant and not quite as good as the its individual parts. However, I’m very confident after watching this, and the superior Another Earth, Brit Marling’s future in films should be something to get excited about. She has a knack for blending semi science fiction with very grounded human stories. She’s left me wanting more. Ultimately, Sound of My Voice feels like a tease.
B+
Saw this, Brit Marling is a revelation and is destined for superstardom. That woman can act.