Monday, March 11, 2013

Monday Matinee: Silent House (2011)

 I think at this stage, I realize that I am posting my thoughts about a scary movie and am pretty much doing it for my own health.  98% of you out there LOATHE scary movies.  So I am sorry, but lately this is the type of thing I've been watching.  

We viewed this particular movie on Halloween night.  I was all for seeing it based on the decent reviews I thought I remembered in Entertainment Weekly.  My daughter, scare extraordinaire, deemed it "stupid".  One of these days I will listen to her.

A young woman (Sarah) is at a family lake cottage with her dad and uncle, preparing it for sale.  The place is a complete wreck, having been the victim of many vandals and trouble-making teenagers.  The windows are all boarded up, there are holes in the wall, and all the furniture is covered in sheets.  As night approaches, Sarah finds that she has been locked in the house, her father and uncle disappear, with clues that imply they may have been injured, and something or someone is coming after her.  











The movie has all the requisite spooky elements.  The house is pitch dark, even during the day because the windows are boarded.  There are a million doors and closets.  There are questionable things behind the walls and in the basement.  We know that we have to figure out what is going on, and what is stalking Sarah.  So we play along, we allow ourselves to jump when Sarah screams, stuff like that.  

But towards the end, a feeling starts to sneak into your head, and the feeling tells you that you have been here before.  Really?  AGAIN?  My memory is not what it used to be, but I could easily tick off a half dozen movies with the same hokey twist.  (Sort of like when all these shaky "handheld camera movies" exploded into theaters after the Blair Witch Project.)  Frankly it is getting very old.  It is clever only the first time you see it.

So.  If you don't watch many scary movies, and you find yourself with the opportunity to watch this one, go for it.  It isn't bad if you aren't familiar with the sub-genre.  (Yes, there are THAT many of them that I think it could be a sub-genre.)  But if you require something different and unique, I'd skip it.

2 out of 5 stars    



7 comments:

rhapsodyinbooks said...

Yes, the odds of my picking up a DVD with that cover are um, how do you say less than zero? LOL

bermudaonion said...

You are a brave, brave soul.

Zibilee said...

I have seen movies like this one, so I think I know what you are talking about. Another one that my daughter would love, but I might find myself not liking so much!!

Julie P. said...

Let me try this again. My last comment got deleted!

I think I said something to the effect that I think it's great that you continue to watch and review these types of movies. Maybe someday I'll find one that I'm willing to try. But I think I'm just a huge chicken.

caite said...

stupid and scary..I think not. :-)

Beth F said...

I'm such a wimp I didn't read past the first paragraph. I can get scared just reading a synopsis. LOL.

Ti said...

I love these types of movies but only if there are others to watch them with. I like to have discussions while watching.