My quick rating – 3.4/10. If you ever wondered what Cliffhanger would look like if it were directed by someone who had just discovered drones, mood lighting, and 1950s special effects, well, The Sound might be your answer. Emphasis on might because even then, it’d be a bit of a stretch.
Let’s start with the good. The cinematography occasionally nails it. Shots of the towering, unforgiving “Wall” actually look stunning, and for a brief moment, you’ll think you’ve tuned into a high-end Nat Geo doc on vertical granite faces. There’s also Jocelyn Hudon (who you might recall from Chicago Fire) as Dana, and the always solid William Fichtner as the grumpy dad who doesn’t want his kid going up the murder-rock. Unfortunately, the filmmakers seem to forget they even exist shortly after rolling the opening credits.
The movie opens by trying to be clever, dropping us into what’s clearly a scene from later in the story. Ooh, intrigue! Shame it only serves as a reminder that we’re going to have to sit through 90 minutes of poorly fleshed-out climbers doing their best “exposition by flashlight” routine before we get back to that moment. There’s no real attempt to give these characters meaningful backstories. Honestly, if their bios were Tinder profiles, they’d all say “just here for a good time,” and you’d swipe left so fast you’d sprain your thumb.
Marc Hills plays Sean, whose entire personality is that his granddad once fell off this very mountain. The local Indian elder ominously blesses their trip in the vaguest way possible, something about spirits and consequences, which is your big clue that we’re heading into supernatural territory. Sort of. Kind of. Maybe. Honestly, it’s like the script couldn’t decide if it was The Descent, The Shining, or a motivational Instagram reel about conquering your fears.
About those effects: imagine the early days of Syfy originals, but with slightly more budget for fake wind. When the climbers finally reach the top and the “big twist” happens, it’s so spectacularly silly you’ll half expect the Scooby-Doo gang to pop out and unmask a disgruntled park ranger. The last 15 minutes spiral into an unintentionally hilarious finale, complete with eyes rolling back and people babbling nonsense. I could practically hear the actors thinking, “Well, the paycheck cleared.”
For fans of climbing, there are cameos by real pros like Alex Honnold, Hazel Findlay, and Brette Harrington, playing themselves. Or at least credited as “self,” which is a weird flex in what’s supposed to be a thriller. If you’re hoping for an adrenaline-fueled mountaineering story, prepare for long stretches of slow rope work and existential whispering instead.
By the time the credits rolled, blasting We Die Young by Alice in Chains (bonus shoutout since I literally mentioned them in a review two days ago. Fate or punishment?), I found myself chuckling more than shivering. And just in case you didn’t suffer enough, the final scene teases a sequel. Because apparently we all need The Sound 2: Even Soundier.
I genuinely wanted to like this. I’m a sucker for anything with ice axes and sheer rock faces (hell, Cliffhanger is a personal classic). But this was all style, no substance, and that style was mostly borrowed. I am probably being generous as it is, so I wouldn’t fault you for rating this lower. If you’re in the mood for a mountain movie, it might be best to watch Stallone hang by one hand again instead, at least that had gravity.
Amazon, along with these other streamers have this one for viewing.