In a movie defined by waiting, the audience is not permitted to leave the four walls of the protagonist’s apartment. Periodically, the film shuts to black, with only an animated clock ticking that shows the time. The movie takes place over just 24 hours.
The waiting is intense and evokes a sense of real time. The sky is dark outside from rain and when the movie begins it is unclear whether it is day or night.
The premise of “The Man in the Wall” is a wife who waits for her husband who does not come home from walking the dog. The dog is found outside the apartment on his leash, which is loose and not held by the husband.
The action unfolds as this panicked wife reacts, and has her reactions judged by those around her. The police, friends, friends of her husband’s, family, even her own hallucinations have a strong opinion on what she is doing and if it is proper. She is chastised for eating, not eating, drinking wine, manipulating the police to search harder, for not searching hard enough.
For an unusual situation such as the disappearance of a man with his cell phone and wallet left at home, it is unclear how his wife should react. Should she investigate? Should she invade his privacy? To what extent? Even, should she remain calm or panic?
In “The Man in the Wall,” viewers can look for secrets to unfold and can look forward to being enlightened in a dark apartment.