Based on Jordan Tannahill’s 2021 novel, “The Listeners” keenly explores the unspoken terror of being dismissed by loved ones during isolation. It opens with Claire (Rebecca Hall), a seasoned high school literature teacher, living a stable family life with her husband, Paul (Prasanna Puwanarajah), and teenage daughter, Ashley (Mia Tharia). She appears content in her routine, comforted by predictability.
But things change when she can’t sleep, suffers random nosebleeds, and is plagued by constant nightmares. Her most troubling symptom above all is a low, continuous hum that no one else hears, driving her to obsessively search for its source out of growing fear and desperation for relief. Concerned that Claire is disrupting the family’s peace, Paul and Ashley dismiss her complaints. An audiologist rules out tinnitus and suggests menopause or anxiety.
As Claire’s isolation grows, one of her students, Kyle (Ollie West in a promising breakthrough performance), admits he is stricken by the same low-volume hum. Driven by his need for answers, Kyle suggests they investigate different wind turbine locations together. They wind up finding a support group of other “low‑hummers” led by mysterious Omar (Amr Waked) and his sweet-natured partner, Jo (Gayle Rankin), who foster the group out of empathy for their own experiences. As Kyle and Claire become part of this community, their bond is deepened, shaped by mutual need and solidarity. But given their taboo dynamic profession, Claire’s life slowly unravels—especially with Paul and Ashley, who fear they’re losing her to obsession.
“The Listeners” illustrates a natural dread that extends beyond the auditory. We see it in Claire’s monotonous routine, her ennui, the honest, raw dialogue with other Listeners like Kyle, and the support group sharing depressive grievances. Steve Fanagan’s pulsating sound design viscerally embodies the metaphor. Janicza Bravo, known for A24’s “Zola,” conveys terror through sound and nightmare sequences, and sells Claire’s isolation and agoraphobia through numerous wide shots. (Watch it with a soundbar or headphones for the ultimate immersive experience.)
“The Listeners”’s greatest strength lies in the nuanced relationship between Claire and Kyle, carefully avoiding romance or sexuality. Kyle’s enigmatic nature and Claire’s obsession can feel inappropriate, yet their similarities—even down to Claire’s short bob and Kyle’s bowl cut matching—underscore their shared loneliness and societal pressure. West and Hall exhibit impressive dynamics, with West matching Hall’s performance despite being a newcomer.
The writing often feels mechanical, limiting the potential of its strong concept and direction by narrowing Claire’s journey to a path of destruction. Claire faces consequences that seem disproportionate to her actions, yet most stem from her own family’s betrayal. The family’s portrayal, especially Paul and Ashley, lacks complexity—they exclusively undermine, dismiss, or antagonize her, which strains plausibility. Their lack of empathy makes it impossible to care about their severed dynamic becoming whole again. Similarly, although Tannahill effectively builds suspense in the opening episodes, the story transitions into hyperbolic dramatic territory, culminating in an unbelievably wild finale.
Despite its shortcomings, Hall anchors the series with quiet strength and confidence, ensuring the show remains compelling, if at times challenging to watch. Hall’s committed performance sometimes compensates for Claire’s underdeveloped internal life, as Tannahill opts for monologues about her youth rather than exploring anything further beyond her external detachment from her family.
Ultimately, “The Listeners” works best as a mood piece about the emotional toll of isolation, in which even those you love dismiss and invalidate your experiences. While one‑dimensional family dynamics and an uneven final act hold it back, Hall’s anchored performance and Bravo’s atmospheric direction ensure the unease lingers. It may not fully earn its ending, but Claire’s unraveling remains a haunting reminder that the most terrifying sound is the one no one else will hear.
Whole series screened for review. Premieres on Starz June 12th.
