Film review
Directed by Gustavo Hernandez
Starring Florencia Colucci, Gustavo Alonso, Abel Tripaldi
Release date 8 April 2011 (UK)

Laura (Colucci) and her father (Alonso) stay in an isolated house while they carry out renovation work. After settling down for a nap, Laura hears noises upstairs. Terrifying events ensure…

This Uruguayan horror movie (now those aren’t words you hear every day) was apparently filmed in one continuous take in the tradition of Rope and Russian Ark. But is it a publicity-generating gimmick or an effective way of crafting a real-time horror without relying on the now-overused shaky-cam/found footage device?

The answer, inevitably, is a bit of both. You can’t help but feel Hernandez has made things overly difficult on himself as the device isn’t crucial to the story, but at least it doesn't prove especially distracting (you soon forget about it).

Loosely based on an incident that happened in the country in the 1940s, this is for the most part a simple and efficient ghost story, with Laura being spooked by creeping shadows and eerie noises. Despite the familiar narrative, which seems to draw some influence from [Rec] and Switchblade Romance as well as decades of haunted house pictures, Hernandez builds up the tension nicely and chucks in a few bona fide jump scares.

Things fall apart somewhat in the final act. The change of direction – which surely won't be a major surprise to anyone – slows everything down and works to dissipate the tension. The film also suffers from having such a cold, enigmatic heroine. Though Laura's inscrutable nature fits in with the story, the lack of an emotional core makes The Silent House a difficult movie to really warm to, despite the technical skill on display.

The swiftly put together American remake – from the directing duo behind Open Water – is due later this year. Matt McAllister

VERDICT: 6/10
A simple but effective chiller that suffers from a muddled final act.

Click here to read an interview with director Gustavo Hernandez.