Capsule Review: If Saw were remade as a musical, it may look a little like Sound of Violence, an unassumingly gory horror-thriller about a young woman, traumatized by the brutal murder of her parents as a child, who finds solace in making auditory recordings and remixes of other people’s grisly deaths.

Fresh-faced Jasmin Savoy Brown may not be the first person you’d expect to be a horrific serial killer, but the actress seems to relish in the unlikely opportunity. Her character is equally likable and maniacally twisted, the kind of combo that makes for a perfect villain. Written and directed Alex Noyer, Sound of Violence doesn’t entirely come together; despite some gruesome death scenes that should win over any body horror fan, I wanted Noyer to really go for the throat (or the ears?) with a little more bite. Even still, Sound of Violence is a rewarding horror indie that deserves to be seen. And heard.

This movie was reviewed as part of coverage for the 2021 SXSW Film Festival

Review by Erik Samdahl unless otherwise indicated.