The Block Island Sound

The Block Island Sound

Year: 2020

Runtime: 100 mins

Language: English

Directors: Kevin McManus, Matthew McManus

Echo Score: 57
ThrillerHorrorMysteryHorror

A mysterious presence lurking near Block Island begins to affect fisherman Tom Lynch, triggering a series of unsettling and violent outbursts. As his behavior spirals out of control, he inadvertently puts his family in increasing danger, and he must confront the unseen force impacting his life and threatening those he loves.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Block Island Sound (2020)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Block Island Sound (2020). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Set in contemporary times, the events unfold against modern technology and institutions, including the Environmental Protection Agency and local police. The narrative relies on scientific inquiry and official investigations to ground the suspense in a present-day context.

Location

Block Island, Rhode Island, Rhode Island mainland

The story unfolds on Block Island, a windswept coastal outpost off the Rhode Island coast, with scenes also shifting to the nearby Rhode Island mainland. The island's fishing culture and rugged shoreline frame the unfolding mystery, while wind farm infrastructure quietly anchors the modern setting. Its close-knit community heightens the suspense as strange phenomena disrupt everyday life.

🏝️ Island setting 🌊 Coastal life 🧭 Mystery

Last Updated: October 14, 2025 at 03:59

Main Characters – The Block Island Sound (2020)

Meet the key characters of The Block Island Sound (2020), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Tom (Neville Archambault)

A fisherman whose behavior grows increasingly erratic after waking on his boat and later vanishing at sea. His sudden decline destabilizes the family, forcing Audry and Harry to confront a possible unseen force at play. His arc centers on grief, responsibility, and the fear that something beyond the ordinary has compromised him.

🎣 Fisherman 💔 Grief 🌊 Ocean life

Emily (Matilda Lawler)

Audry's daughter, a curious observer who travels to Block Island and becomes a bridge between island life and mainland investigation. She helps anchor the human perspective amid the island's strange events and maintains a sense of innocence in the face of danger. Her presence grounds the story in family resilience.

👧 Child 🧭 Curious 👪 Family ties

Harry (Chris Sheffield)

Tom's son who becomes enveloped by visions and paranoia. His increasingly erratic behavior culminates in a dangerous attempt to abduct Emily and flee the island, highlighting grief's grip and potential external influence. His arc explores the spiral of fear when a loved one is consumed by the unknown.

🌀 Erratic 🧠 Troubled 🗣️ Visionary

Audry (Michaela McManus)

Emily's mother and an Environmental Protection Agency investigator who travels from the mainland to Block Island to study the wildlife disturbances. She is pragmatic, protective of her family, and determined to uncover the cause behind the island's events.

👩‍🔬 EPA agent 🛡️ Protective mother 🔬 Analytical

Jen ( Heidi Niedermeyer)

Tom's estranged sister who returns home from New York for the funeral, bringing an external perspective and additional tension to the already fraught situation.

👩 Sister 🧭 Estranged 🌀 Tension

Paul (Ryan O'Flanagan)

Audry's coworker from the EPA who assists with the investigation and winds up entangled in the events. He offers warnings of danger and contributes to the scientific framing of the mystery.

👨‍🔬 Colleague 🧭 Investigator 🗯️ Wary

Last Updated: October 14, 2025 at 03:59

Major Themes – The Block Island Sound (2020)

Explore the central themes of The Block Island Sound (2020), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🌀 Otherworldly Influence

Unexplained phenomena push characters toward actions shaped by forces beyond ordinary explanation. Vision-like experiences, altered perceptions, and a sense of being watched suggest something unseen at work. The film explores whether electromagnetic or otherworldly powers drive the events, while focusing on their impact on family and fear.

💔 Family Grief

Grief and fragile family bonds lie at the emotional core of the story. Tom's disappearance and death unleash guilt, fear, and unanswered questions among Audry, Harry, and Jen. The tension deepens as each character copes with loss in distinct ways, driving dangerous decisions and close-knit relationships under strain.

🔬 Science vs Mystery

Audry and Paul anchor the investigation in science and environmental factors, attempting to separate natural causes from unexplained forces. The narrative juxtaposes rational inquiry with seemingly inexplicable events, creating a tension between empirical reasoning and belief. The unresolved phenomena emphasize the limits of knowledge and the fragility of certainty.

🏘️ Isolation and Community

Block Island's geographic isolation amplifies fear and paranoia, turning routine life into high-stakes vulnerability. The community's reliance on boats, ferries, and local industries shapes decisions under pressure. The setting demonstrates how place can intensify psychological distress and collective unease.

Last Updated: October 14, 2025 at 03:59

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The Block Island Sound Summary

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The Block Island Sound Summary

The Block Island Sound Timeline

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The Block Island Sound Timeline

The Block Island Sound Spoiler-Free Summary

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The Block Island Sound Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Block Island Sound

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More About The Block Island Sound