In 2010, a small budget Spanish language horror film from Uruguay appeared called La Casa Muda. Directed by Gustavo Hernandez, it was supposedly shot in one take (this fact came into dispute soon after it's release), and followed, in real time, a girl who is stalked through an abandoned cottage by an unknown assailant. It was praised for it's originality, technical achievements, and ability to to create some genuinely scary moments. With all this praise it was inevitable that Hollywood would come calling with a remake. But as has been the case with recent english language remakes, it is quite good.
Silent House is the story of Sarah (Elizabeth Olsen), a young woman fixing up an old family home for sale with her father (Adam Trese) and Uncle (Eric Sheffer Stevens). When her and her father go to investigate strange noise in the house, they become victims of a terrifying home invasion.
When a gimmick is used as the main selling point for a movie, it lives or dies by that gimmick. Thankfully, the real time aspect of Silent House works very well. It is shot like a found footage movie, offers some very inventive shots (such as through the crack between the door frame and an open door) and the camera rarely strays from Olsen, keeping her in tight mid shot for pretty much all the movie so we experience the events as she does. This really helps build tension as the movie is a slow burn, the scares are used sparingly and when they do come, they are genuinely unnerving. The location is extremely atmospheric, a plot point is established early on that the house has no electricity so most of the lighting comes from torches or electric lanterns. While directors Chris Kentis and Laura Lau haven't gone with the one shot take of the original, instead shooting 12 minute takes edited together to look like one continuous shot. It's a credit to them that some of the cuts are almost invisible.
But while I do praise the camera work, it does prove to be the films biggest downfall. In scenes of extreme movement, the camera lurches all over the place, making the scene impossible to follow, and too often we get shots focusing on the floor or Olsen's arm as the camera man tries to right himself. Also, in scenes where the tension is building nicely, an ever present sound track ruins it, almost feeling like the film is one step away from having a man in the corner of the room, shouting "Ominous!".
While Trese and Stevens do well in their supporting roles, this is Olsen's show. She really shines as Sarah, in a role that pretty much calls for her to alternate between crying and screaming her lungs out. Most of the time the threat is off camera, so we spend our time watching Sarah break down, as she desperately tries not to make a sound. In this aspect of the role, Olsen brings her A-game. What lets her down, and the rest of the film, slightly is a strange shift in tone near the film's end. While she is still very good in these final moments, for me it clashed with what came before, almost detracting from it.
All in all, Silent House, while not perfect, does deliver the scares, and Elizabeth Olsen gives an outstanding performance. It's worth checking out.
Silent House is the story of Sarah (Elizabeth Olsen), a young woman fixing up an old family home for sale with her father (Adam Trese) and Uncle (Eric Sheffer Stevens). When her and her father go to investigate strange noise in the house, they become victims of a terrifying home invasion.
When a gimmick is used as the main selling point for a movie, it lives or dies by that gimmick. Thankfully, the real time aspect of Silent House works very well. It is shot like a found footage movie, offers some very inventive shots (such as through the crack between the door frame and an open door) and the camera rarely strays from Olsen, keeping her in tight mid shot for pretty much all the movie so we experience the events as she does. This really helps build tension as the movie is a slow burn, the scares are used sparingly and when they do come, they are genuinely unnerving. The location is extremely atmospheric, a plot point is established early on that the house has no electricity so most of the lighting comes from torches or electric lanterns. While directors Chris Kentis and Laura Lau haven't gone with the one shot take of the original, instead shooting 12 minute takes edited together to look like one continuous shot. It's a credit to them that some of the cuts are almost invisible.
But while I do praise the camera work, it does prove to be the films biggest downfall. In scenes of extreme movement, the camera lurches all over the place, making the scene impossible to follow, and too often we get shots focusing on the floor or Olsen's arm as the camera man tries to right himself. Also, in scenes where the tension is building nicely, an ever present sound track ruins it, almost feeling like the film is one step away from having a man in the corner of the room, shouting "Ominous!".
While Trese and Stevens do well in their supporting roles, this is Olsen's show. She really shines as Sarah, in a role that pretty much calls for her to alternate between crying and screaming her lungs out. Most of the time the threat is off camera, so we spend our time watching Sarah break down, as she desperately tries not to make a sound. In this aspect of the role, Olsen brings her A-game. What lets her down, and the rest of the film, slightly is a strange shift in tone near the film's end. While she is still very good in these final moments, for me it clashed with what came before, almost detracting from it.
All in all, Silent House, while not perfect, does deliver the scares, and Elizabeth Olsen gives an outstanding performance. It's worth checking out.
