Movie Review: 'Silent House' Where Panic Turns to Terror

Elizabeth Olsen stars as Sarah in this horror film about a young woman who becomes trapped inside her family’s secluded lake house. Panic and terror set in as events in and around the house become increasingly ominous and Sarah is unable to contact the outside world. The filming of Silent House utilized intense camera choreography which takes the audience on a real time journey in a single uninterrupted shot.

Scott Weinberg of Fear Net describes the remake as “a simple and straightforward haunted house story that offers a bit that’s new, a whole bunch that’s not, a great lead performance and a few surprises you may or may not see coming.”

As to the camera work in this film, Weinberg writes, “the filmmakers are able to sustain the better moments of tension through use of cranny camerawork and super-slick editing and how the setting as a whole starts to feel like a truly devious place.”

Peter Howell of the Toronto Star writes “It wouldn't work without the exceptional work of Olsen. Her uneasily captivating performance here could almost be viewed as the 'why' prequel to Martha Marcy May Marlene, the other chiller from Sundance 2011 that established her as rising star to watch.”

Here’s what other critics had to say about “Silent House”:

“Silent House” features several genuine scares and giggle inducing jumps and since this isn’t your typically over-edited contemporary horror movie, they don’t feel screechy or cheap. But once the ultimate twist is revealed, you may find yourself feeling frustrated or even disgusted rather than frightened. – Christy Lemire, The Associated Press

The directors have come up with a new and powerful way to film a thriller: Silent House contains no quick editing in the active moments, and there is never an instance when the movie cuts unexpectedly to something scary as the soundtrack thunders – Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

For 88 minutes, Olsen rivets our attention, and the camera's, so fiercely it verges on unbearable. Silent House is her movie. – Kathleen Murphy, MSN Movies

Showtimes: Great Escape 14

Ready to see "Silent House"? Head to , 2160 Hamilton Creek Parkway. For more theater information and links to showtimes and pricing,  or call 678-482-0624.