The Silence (3/5) – Netflix Movie Review

The Silence is a new Netflix horror movie. The story might sound similar to A Quiet Place but it is actually quite different. Find out how in our spoiler-free review and watch the horror movie on Netflix now!

The Silence is a new horror movie on Netflix. From the second the plot was revealed after the release of A Quiet Place, the comparison has been inevitable. The same thing was the case with the Netflix movie Bird Box. 

However, for both The Silence and Bird Box, the movies are based on novels that were written before A Quiet Place was made. Besides, all three movies are actually very different. The comparison feels very unfair!

I mean, it’s not like we rush to judge movies about zombies, demons or serial killers because other movies have focused on the same subject. Okay, rant over.

My point – and I do have one – is that you should just watch The Silence and enjoy the unique story that this tells. I’ll go through a few reasons why you should definitely watch it in this review.

Of course, you could also just rush to watch The Silence now since it’s out on Netflix.

Is The Silence as good as A Quiet Place?

No matter what anyone says, the comparison between these two horror movies has already been made, so let’s just get to it; Is The Silence better than A Quiet Place?

Personally, I really loved A Quiet Place and still prefer that version of “be quiet”-horror. However, I suspect some will feel The Silence is better since it moves faster. To each their own, I suppose. Isn’t that always how it goes with movies though?!

What both movies really have going for them is their cast. In The Silence, we have a little Chilling Adventures of Sabrina reunion, since both Kiernan Shipka (Sabrina) and Miranda Otto (Aunt Zelda) are in this movie as well.

I always adore Miranda “I am no man” Otto, but I also love Stanley Tucci. In fact, sometimes Stanley Tucci can be the only reason to watch something as it was the case with Patient Zero.

When it comes to The Silence, he is one of several reasons to watch the new horror movie on Netflix. And yes, I know it’s actually a bit ironic that he’s married to Emily Blunt’s sister since she starred in A Quiet Place. There’s one connection for sure.

Experience the apocalypse in real time

In The Silence, we begin just as problems begin. The monsters in this movie come from a cave that we [humans] go to explore. Much like the Piranha movie, actually. This is where the movie opens and you immediately know that this will be bad for all mankind.

Then we move on to follow a family that has Kiernan Shipka as the oldest daughter. And yes, like in A Quiet Place, she is deaf. Or rather, she’s mostly deaf since her hearing was drastically impaired after a car accident. However, in The Silence, we get to follow the apocalypse as it takes hold rather than land in the aftermath.

The actual creature looks like the love child of an albino bat and Alien. It’s very prehistoric-looking which is perfectly in line with the plot. 

To me, it all went too fast and I actually would have loved it if the movie was longer. With just 90 minutes, we have to cover a lot of plot. It felt like a very good and full episode of Fear The Walking Dead. Or maybe more like the first and last episode of a season.

In fact, the plot of The Silence would have been perfect for a Netflix series rather than a movie. It also leaves room for sequels in several forms. Or they could just go for a Netflix series after having introduced this world with the movie.

Watch The Silence on Netflix now!

The Silence was directed by John R. Leonetti who also directed both Annabelle, Wolves at the Door, and Wish Upon. Before directing these movies within the past five years, he was a cinematographer on several of James Wan’s movies. Including Insidious (1 and 2) and The Conjuring.

In other words, John R. Leonetti is very much a horror movie filmmaker.

The same goes for the screenplay writers Carey Van Dyke and Shane Van Dyke. They previously wrote Chernobyl Diaries (2012) along with Oren Peli (creator of Paranormal Activity) and it was actually quite fascinating. With The Silence, they’ve based their script on the novel by Tim Lebbon.

Originally, The Silence was set to be released on Netflix on April 12, 2019 (a Friday). Suddenly, this was changed to a Wednesday instead, so now you can watch The Silence on Netflix right away or save it for a Friday night movie.

Whatever you do, try to avoid spoilers and form your own opinion of the movie.

The Silence is out on Netflix worldwide from April 10, 2019.

Details

Director: John R. Leonetti
Writers: Carey Van Dyke and Shane Van Dyke (based on the novel by Tim Lebbon)
Cast: Kiernan Shipka, Stanley Tucci, Miranda Otto, John Corbett, Kate Corbett, Kyle Breitkopf, Sarah Abbott, Dempsey Bryk, Billy MacLellan, Kate Trotter

Plot

When the world is under attack from terrifying creatures who hunt their human prey by sound, 16-year old Ally Andrews (Kiernan Shipka), who lost her hearing at 13, and her family seek refuge in a remote haven. But they discover a sinister cult who are eager to exploit Ally’s heightened senses.