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Title:
Eavesdropper
Region:
One
Genre:
Sci-Fi Drama Thriller
Stars:
Lucy Jennifer, Costas Mandylor, John J. York, John De Lancie, George Takei, and
Tucker Smallwood
Writer:
Andrew Bakalar
Director:
Andrew Bakalar
Feature
length: 97 minutes
Extras:
Director’s Commentary, Behind-The-Scenes Featurette, Theatrical Trailer, and
Previews
Languages:
English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and Dolby Surround Sound
Subtitles:
English Closed Captions and Spanish Language Subtitles
Packaging:
Keep Case
Chapter
Stops: 9
Sound:
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and Dolby Surround Sound
Year
of DVD Release: 2006
Home
Video Distributor: Freestyle Home Entertainment
MPAA
Rating: R
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
I
have a layperson’s interest in science and appreciate hard science fiction
over sci-fi in general. An interesting book that I read while I was a graduate
student was “The Man Who Tasted Shapes” by Richard E. Cytowic, MD (ISBN#
0-446-67068-5) The book detailed a rare condition that effects approximately ten
in a million people called synesthesia. Synesthesia is a phenomena where a
person’s senses are not attuned in quite the same way an average individual
perceives the world around them. So as a result a person might feel a certain
taste in his or her mouth associated to a shape or see a color when hearing a
sound or a sensation of touch he or she associates with a smell. The study of
synesthesia has revealed fascinating insights into the nature of consciousness.
Now the film “Eavesdropper” is not at all about synesthesia, but it reminded
me of Dr. Cytowic’s book because it does raise into question the nature of
human perception. In his articulate and screen specific feature length audio
commentary, Writer and Director Andrew Bakalar states that a human being can go
psychotic after three days of sleep deprivation. He also states that he worked
as closely as possible with various professionals to get an accurate
understanding of how a person who has gone deaf might readjust to hearing again
if she received a treatment that enabled to perceive mind voices, which is
basically the ability to hear the thoughts of another’s conscious mind.
According to Bakalar, there has been actual research into this possibility, but
because of the potential dangers that include threats to national security,
these experiments, if they have truly taken place, are most likely classified.
Thus
the film raises questions related to the nature of human perception and
personally I find that fascinating. Originally entitled “Patient 14,” this
film revolves around a woman whose life takes a radical turn after surviving a
brutal attack in which a gun fired close to her ears caused her to lose her
hearing. Taken into a facility where covert human testing into deciphering mind
voices is in progress, she not only gains new sensory abilities, but also is the
only human test survivor, which places her in a maze of government coercion and
cover-up that could threaten her life as well as others. The film stays away
from the typical trashy melodrama one might associate with this kind of genre
picture for the most part and feels refreshingly original. Independently
produced, Andrew Bakalar’s script managed to entice a number of genre
television icons that include “Star Trek” franchise veterans George Takei,
John De Lancie as well as Tucker Smallwood whose credits also include “Space:
Above And Beyond” and “Babylon
5.”
Presented
in an anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1) aspect ratio, “Eavesdropper” looks
appropriately gritty since this is really a fictional account pretending to be
based on a true story and the use of sound in the film is very important so it
is an absolute must that one should view this DVD with a home theater receiver
to value the dynamic English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtrack. An English
Dolby Surround Soundtrack as well as English Closed Captions for the hearing
impaired and Spanish Language Subtitles has been encoded onto the DVD as options
too. In addition to the feature length Director’s Audio Commentary, there is a
making-of featurette (12:17) and a short trailer (: 56) as well as previews for
“The Rockville Slayer” (: 32) and “Dirty Deeds” (2:25). The interactive
menus feature full motion scene selections and all are easy to navigate.
“Eavesdropper” is available on DVD-Video now courtesy of Freestyle Home
Entertainment and a TV series based on the film is now in development.
©
Copyright 2006 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
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