Hot Picks
|
|
|
Silent Retreat
Canada 2013
produced by Tricia Lee, Chris Agoston (executive) for A Film Monkey Production
directed by Tricia Lee
starring Chelsea Jenish, Sofia Banzhaf, Robert Nolan, Jen Pogue, Matthew Romantini, Mark Buck, Jennie Foster, Katie Buitendyk, Jenna Jade Rain, Sable Rae Empey, Mark Kalpakis, Minerva Mohabir, Angela M. Newell, Meghan Nora Smith
story by Corey Brown, Tricia Lee, screenplay by Corey Brown, music by Aaron Gilhuis, special effects by Shaun Hunter
review by Mike Haberfelner
|
|
|
As part of her mandatory rehabilitation program, young Janey (Chelsea
Jenish) is sent to a retreat deep in the woods - something that on first
sight might seem much preferable to any kind of correctional facility, as
the rules seem very simple here for a limited time to sit through: One is
just not allowed to talk, to make eye contact with other inmates, or to
draw attention to oneself. However, Dr Prince (Robert Nolan) who runs the
facility, is a bit too strict in enforcing the rules while all the inmates
are a bit too obedient. And apparently, there's something weird going on
in one of the cabins where the disobedient girls are taken, something that
might have to do with brainwashing. Eventually, in an unguarded moment,
Janey makes friends with Alexis (Sofia Banzhaf), and the two of them make
up a plan to escape - a plan that includes them searching Dr Prince's
office in an unguarded moment and finding out quite a few horrible things
... but ultimately, they are caught, and left out in the woods that nighjt
- and there they have to find out that the doctor's insistence on silence
isn't just a whim of his, there is actually a creature out in the woods
who's on the prowl for everyone who makes as much as a sound, a creature
that now comes after Janey and Alexis ... but the girls still have some
fight in them ... Silent Retreat is one of those low
budget horror movies that gets it right where so many bigger budget movies
simply fail: It relies heavily on atmosphere to creep the audience rather
than relying on randomly placed sudden shocks for a bit of a
"boo"-effect, doesn't explain everything away from square one
but lets the mystery unfold slowly (and effectively), even if somethings
are left unexplained till the end, it's directed with just the right
subtlety to get the wilder plot elements across as believable (at least in
the framework on the movie, and even if there's very little dialogue, it
features well-developed characters portrayed by an extremely capable cast.
And apart from all that, the finale packs a huge punch!!! Highly
recommended!
|