Silent House
2.5/4
Starring: Elizabeth Olsen, Eric Sheffer Stevens, Adam Trese
Rated R for Disturbing Violent Content and Terror
Although "Silent House" contains a number of truly spooky sequences, the film as a whole doesn't work, due in part to a horrible performance by Elizabeth Olsen and a catastrophically bad final act.
Sarah (Olsen) is spending the next few days with her father, John (Trese), and uncle, Peter (Stevens), renovating her family's summer home. But there are a few creepy goings on upstairs, and before she knows it, she's trapped in the house with a few nasty intruders.
The film's style is meant to mimic a single take (it is actually cut up into ten minute segments that are seamlessly edited together). It's a creative choice that has a lot of potential for a movie like this. Unfortunately, as directed by Chris Kentis and Laura Lau, it's mostly unrealized. The technique feels contrived and constantly calls attention to itself.
Also of note is Elizabeth Olsen's performance. Olsen is a good actress, like in last years critic's darling "Martha Marcy May Marlene." She's good in her first few scenes in this movie too, but once she starts crying, her performance becomes cringe-inducing. Eric Sheffer Stevens is good as her way-too-young-to-be-her-uncle Philip, and Adam Trese is effective as her father, but this is Olsen's show.
The film's ending is also a problem...a major one. It's completely out of left-field, a lame cliche, and considering the details, more than a little sick. Done right, twist endings can be effective, but here it's a desperate attempt that is so outrageous and bizarre that it diminishes a lot of goodwill that it built up.
There are some good things about this movie. Some scenes are genuinely creepy, particularly one that uses a Polaroid camera to good effect. So if that's all you're looking for, go ahead and see it. But be forewarned that there are some substantial problems with this movie.
Starring: Elizabeth Olsen, Eric Sheffer Stevens, Adam Trese
Rated R for Disturbing Violent Content and Terror
Although "Silent House" contains a number of truly spooky sequences, the film as a whole doesn't work, due in part to a horrible performance by Elizabeth Olsen and a catastrophically bad final act.
Sarah (Olsen) is spending the next few days with her father, John (Trese), and uncle, Peter (Stevens), renovating her family's summer home. But there are a few creepy goings on upstairs, and before she knows it, she's trapped in the house with a few nasty intruders.
The film's style is meant to mimic a single take (it is actually cut up into ten minute segments that are seamlessly edited together). It's a creative choice that has a lot of potential for a movie like this. Unfortunately, as directed by Chris Kentis and Laura Lau, it's mostly unrealized. The technique feels contrived and constantly calls attention to itself.
Also of note is Elizabeth Olsen's performance. Olsen is a good actress, like in last years critic's darling "Martha Marcy May Marlene." She's good in her first few scenes in this movie too, but once she starts crying, her performance becomes cringe-inducing. Eric Sheffer Stevens is good as her way-too-young-to-be-her-uncle Philip, and Adam Trese is effective as her father, but this is Olsen's show.
The film's ending is also a problem...a major one. It's completely out of left-field, a lame cliche, and considering the details, more than a little sick. Done right, twist endings can be effective, but here it's a desperate attempt that is so outrageous and bizarre that it diminishes a lot of goodwill that it built up.
There are some good things about this movie. Some scenes are genuinely creepy, particularly one that uses a Polaroid camera to good effect. So if that's all you're looking for, go ahead and see it. But be forewarned that there are some substantial problems with this movie.
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