MovieChat Forums > The Keep (1983) Discussion > Worst Sound Mix in the History of the Ci...

Worst Sound Mix in the History of the Cinema

posted 14 years ago by MiBellaDi
21 replies | jump to latest

This could have been much better film. Whoever mixed the soundtrack made it almost unwatchable. I had read the novel and was quite excited about seeing the film. After sitting through it, I realized that if I hadn't read the book I probably wouldn't have known what the story was about because I couldn't hear half the dialogue. This film shouldn't be re-released in ANY format until the sound mix is re-done and Tangerine Dreams' score doesn't stand between the viewer and the film's plot. It is, of course, highly doubtful that will ever be done. A shame.

[–] SoTyred 14 years ago

I thought it was just the DVD. Yikes that IS some horrible sound mixing. I agree; half the time you can't hear what anyone is saying.

**Skin that Smokewagon and see what happens!** Tombstone

[–] Anrkey 14 years ago

Agreed. I just saw it for the first time and thought it would have been an excellent film if not for the really poor audio quality.

I missed entire scenes because I couldn't hear what they were saying.

Nothing ruins a movie more than having to continually turn the audio UP and then OMG THAT'S LOUD! TURN IT DOWN AGAIN!

But even when turning it up, the dialog was inaudible.

[–] jeff-1076 13 years ago

Yeah, I've never had to ride the volume button on the remote as much as I had to with this movie. If only the NetFlix streaming had a subtitle option, I missed out on a lot of dialog because of the poor sound mix.

[–] andremarshna2003 13 years ago

Agree one can hardly hear anything no wonder it was BO flop.

[–] alyd23 13 years ago

Sounds like the Netflix copy is at fault here.

There are some tricky accents here and generally Mann likes alternative phrasing in his films but for all you to agree on this being as bad as you say (there's no Netlfix where I am to check) there would seem to be something wrong with the copy on Netflix as I can state from personal experience the film itself has no such problems.

What's the Netflix video quality like? There's no DVD so is it possible they're presenting a Laserdisc or even VHS sourced encode that might explain the sound issues?

[–] filmeuro 13 years ago

I have the Laserdisc, and the sound problem is the same on that. You have to constantly ride the volume so you can understand the dialog, without blowing out your speakers when the next frame has some sound effect.

Still love the movie, in spite of that.

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] blameline 13 years ago

I'm actually glad to hear that there were others with this trouble... I thought the problem was with my new Blu-Ray player. It's a shame, because I really enjoy Tangerine Dream scores in films, but the soundtrack in this film ruins it.

Next thing they'll be breeding us like cattle. You've gotta tell them. SOYLENT GREEN IS PEOPLE!

[–] FilmIsMyReligion 13 years ago

They showed a double feature of "The Keep" and "Sorcerer" at The Castro Theater 5 or 6 years ago. The film print had the same problem too (and the print was in very good shape). That's kind of strange that the sound mix is so lousy. I remember the trailers for the film advertising "6-Track Dolby Stereo" and 70MM presentation (tho the Castro showed a 35mm print). You'd think with all that money they threw into it the sound mix would be clearer. Some scenes, it seems the fault lies with using the on-set audio instead of re-recording it in post. Just another technical problem (along with the sometimes sloppy editing) that mars an otherwise interesting film...

[–] GleamingMemory 12 years ago

I nearly shat my pants thinking I was losing my hearing watching this film. Why does the audio sucks so bad?? Who's in charge of mixing these films? Don't they test the films and watch them when they mix them for DVD or whatever format it is?

[–] SteveG (1370) 3 years ago

Thats the most awesome double feature I have ever heard of.

[–] indisposedinmymind 12 years ago

Finished watching it on TV about an hour ago and I have to agree with everyone else that it sounded shoddy (though the print itself was in a very poor state). Did anyone else notice that really weird moment when Gabriel Byrne's voice shifted tone mid sentence, like it was dubbed in post? It sounded very clear for a second, only to go back into the muddy on-set audio.

IS THIS SOMETHING YOU CAN SHARE WITH THE REST OF US, AMAZING LARRY?!?!

[–] PterryFan 11 years ago

I'd heard so much about this film and was really looking forward to seeing it (Saw it on Film 4) but while I enjoy Tangerine Dreams music to listen to,the film score totally sucked.

Instead of scenes in the film having heightened unease and dread, it totally took me out of the movie, was completely inappropriate in fact.

So much so that in the end I couldn't watch it and changed channels.

BIG let down all round .

[–] Hollowshape 11 years ago

The Amazon Prime version has different music.

http://www.amazon.com/Keep/dp/B009W4MQ2A/ref=sr_1_2?s=movies-tv

[–] Dali-Fan 11 years ago

Sorry, but what do you mean by different music? Not following you.

I've never seen this flic since catching it in cinema the year it came out, and I don't recall the mix obscuring the actor's voices. This was though a long time ago and memories (especially mine) being what they are . . .

[–] Hollowshape 11 years ago

Wikipedia: "As of 2013, the film has not been officially released on DVD or Blu-ray Disc in any country, but is available for streaming on Amazon instant video with a drastically different soundtrack than it's original release."

[–] cornflakeboy20 11 years ago

Watch anything from 1929. You'll revise your historical opinion.

[–] TheHungryAndAngryShow 9 years ago

I just saw a 35mm print of this last night and the sound was awful, the music way too loud for certain scenes which really made the dialogue hard to hear. Just one of the many problems with this film.

[–] wildfire160 9 years ago

It wasn't all the mixers fault the studio took the film out of Manns hands and re edited it(butchered)and wouldn't give enough time for the score to be redone..
when you take a 240min film and turn it into a 96 min one making no sense would be an understatement ..

Nee ta ma duh tyen-shia suo-yo duh run doh gai si

[–] catmydogs 9 years ago

I watched this on Amazon Prime. It is a laughable BAD film with a very uneven story line. I think the plot must have been utterly butchered in the editing process. Some scenes are a bit creepy, and I liked some of the monster effects, but the film as a whole is a complete mess.

And yes, the sound was TERRIBLE! What were they thinking? Was this film actually released like this in movie theaters?

I can hardly believe the same director who did Thief and Heat did this film.

I can see the qualities that make this something of a cult film, but seriously, there are far far FAR better "bad" cult movies out there. This film is not worth watching more than once, in my opinion.

[–] gerbilstunts 9 years ago

I don't think the blame can be entirely directed at Mann, if you haven't already take a look at the wikipedia entry for the film specifically 'production' and '210 minute cut' sections, it's quite an eye opener, things like having the film chopped in half, the special effects guy dying a couple of weeks into post production, and paramount not willing to pay for the ending :)