Silent House review

            The gimmick of Silent House is also an accomplished technical feat which begs notice be made of this film despite the quality of the story being told. I can’t say that I enjoyed Silent House as much as I was impressed by it, and yet I’m not sure if that is even enough for me to make a recommendation. In some ways I found the film to be contrived and unoriginal, but the fact that it was shot all in one uninterrupted take makes me put aside these grievances.

            The film begins as a teenager named Laura (Florencia Colucci) and her father approach an isolated old house. Having been hired by the owner to clean the home and prepare it for sale, the two settle in to sleep before a day of work. They believe themselves to be alone in the house, but Laura hears noises coming from the second floor. When her father investigates, he comes back injured, and soon it becomes clear that there are forces hunting Laura in the house. She searches for an escape, and in the process the truth is revealed. The truth is far less interesting than the simple concept of being trapped in a home with an intruder, and that is why Silent House failed as a film for me.

            Director Gustavo Hernandez has made a film which is impressive far beyond enjoyable. I have no interest in seeing this film again, but I found myself rewinding and re-watching section simply to admire the technical courage of the film.