‘It takes a hunter to catch a killer.’
The Silencing is a 2020 American-Canadian crime thriller about a reformed hunter and a sheriff tracking a deadly serial killer.
Directed by Robin Pront (The Ardennes) from a screenplay written by Micah Ranum, the movie stars Annabelle Wallis (Malignant; Annabelle and sequel; The Mummy), Zahn McClarnon (Doctor Sleep; Bone Tomahawk), Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Mama; Nightwatch) and Hero Fiennes Tiffin.
Plot:
A reformed hunter (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and a sheriff (Annabelle Wallis) are caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse when they set out to track a deadly serial killer who may have kidnapped the hunter’s daughter five years ago…
[May contain spoilers] Reviews:
” …when it works… It f*cking works! But this tries to do so much that it ends up tripping over its own feet and creating issues when there shouldn’t be any. Dumb decisions get made because of an unnecessary rush when we could have a longer movie that would have fleshed out motivations and actions.” Arrow in the Head
“The Silencing suffers from a lack of character development and an overuse of shaky cam in its action sequences, but it’s saved by the excellent performances and moments of genuine tension throughout.” BRWC
” …despite its roster of wonderful talent, lush scenery, and lovely cinematography, The Silencing still feels like a typical thriller and is, admittedly, somewhat predictable. For fans of mystery-thrillers, it’s a well-done and enjoyable ride, one with all the bells and whistles necessary to engage your ears and eyes…” Cryptic Rock
“What brittle bones constitute the skeleton that is The Silencing only add up to another barely mediocre appropriation of the moth-eaten Most Dangerous Game premise.” Culture Crypt
“If you like the classic serial killer movies where a grieving parent and a ballsy sheriff work together to get the killer, then The Silencing is definitely worth your time. Particularly if you like the two actors starring in it.” Heaven of Horror
“Making up for the stock characters, well-worn situations, and bread crumbs deliberately dropped on certain storytelling paths — some of which lead to dead ends — are the performances of the two leads, both of whom give their all to Micah Ranum’s convoluted screenplay, and Manuel Dacosse’s fine cinematography.” Horror Fuel
“Although the cat and mouse aspect is played out, it is the sole strength of this film. There are quite a few cliff-hanging action scenes. Then there are slow-paced sequences, some very dragged out, ultimately leading to an abrupt and unsatisfying ending.” Leaky Loonage
“As well as the mood of the film, there are certainly problems with the story: for example, there are a number of – potentially interesting – plot strands which don’t go anywhere, such as a traditional weapon, and Brooks’ trauma. Crucially, most of the characters are basically standard models from crime dramas across the western world.” Ready Steady Cut!
“Despite having a repetitive and extremely boring storyline, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau does a good job, the only one that stands out because he really got into the character. I think the length of the film also played against it. Even with such a simple idea, it would have been better to see it in a short film and not like this.” Solce
“There’s little here to surprise hardened genre fans, save for a cool-looking killer and excellent cinematography. It looks pretty and it’s well cast, but it’s desperately dull and predictable – down to the boring reveal at the end. It does moody and atmospheric well, but that will only take you so far.” Starburst
“It’s an enjoyable movie with its fair share of good and bad moments. It’s entertaining and does try to do its best with its characters. Thus, it’s an enjoyable watch if you don’t go too deep into the plot.” TechQuila
Release:
The Silencing will be available on DirecTV on July 16, 2020. It will be released theatrically, On-Demand and on Digital August 14, 2020, via Saban Films.
Cast and characters:
Annabelle Wallis … Sheriff Alice Gustafson
Zahn McClarnon
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
Melanie Scrofano
Hero Fiennes Tiffin … Brooks
Josh Cruddas
Danielle Ryan … Doctor Patel
Kayla Dumont … Jane Doe
Daina Barbeau … Waitress
Shaun Smyth … Doctor Boone
Brielle Robillard … Gwen
Bart Rochon … Truck Owner
Charlotte Lindsay Marron … Molly
Justin James Remeikis … Young Doctor
Lisa Cromarty … Mrs Berg
Filming locations:
Ontario, Canada
Technical details:
97 minutes
Rated ‘R’
