Can a horror film survive when its premise feels like a familiar echo?
In short: Released on Netflix in 2019, The Silence depicts a world overrun by sound-hunting creatures called Vesps. While the film explores a family's desperate struggle for survival, it faced immediate comparisons to other genre hits, sparking debates about originality, casting choices, and the nature of modern cinematic production.
Based on Tim Lebbon's 2015 novel, The Silence follows Ally Andrews, a deaf teenager, and her family as they navigate a landscape terrorized by Vesps—pterosaur-like creatures unearthed from a mine. Directed by John R. Leonetti, the film features a cast including Kiernan Shipka and Stanley Tucci. Production began in Toronto in September 2017, but the project faced distribution hurdles when Global Road Entertainment, the original rights holder, encountered financial instability. Netflix eventually acquired the film and released it on April 10, 2019.
The film drew significant criticism for its similarities to the 2018 hit A Quiet Place. Critics like Adam Epstein noted that one of the screenwriters, Shane Van Dyke, had a history with The Asylum, a studio known for producing low-budget 'mockbusters.' While author Tim Lebbon defended the film's independence, reviewers were largely unimpressed. Rotten Tomatoes reported a 30% approval rating, with critics describing the film as a derivative retread that lacked the tension and stakes required for effective horror.
Beyond its narrative reception, the film sparked controversy regarding representation. Director Leonetti praised hearing actress Kiernan Shipka for her 'flawless' American Sign Language, but this drew backlash from the deaf community. Figures like Nyle DiMarco and Marlee Matlin criticized the production for equating a hearing actor's performance with the lived experience of deaf individuals. Critics also pointed to plot inconsistencies regarding the character's deafness, further complicating the film's legacy as it remains a point of comparison for viewers navigating the crowded landscape of streaming horror.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Silence (2019 film)
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