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jcu931
IMDb member since November 2006
Reviews
La casa muda (2010)
A Horror Film of Two Acts - One Good, One Terrible
10 April 2011 - 14 out of 21 users found this review helpful.
Now this film had very good points and very bad points, which makes it difficult to decide whether it is a good film or not as a whole. Like every scary film, this film could be divided into two halves: The 'what's going on' part (which builds up tension and suspense) and the 'resolution' (in which the plot is explained and wraps up). This film has a very effective first part, but it's in the second half's explanation that everything good collapses. Good points and bad points for the first half:
- Camera work - Good: I usually detest 'shaky-cam' movies, but this one was quite effective (for the most part), because it wasn't too shaky, so that I didn't get motion sickness from it. Also, it makes it so that the audience can't see much of what's going on, which adds to the suspense. Bad: It gives the feel that there's someone else in the room (the cameraman), which detracts from the main character's plight.
- Main Female Character - Good: I think the actress did a good job portraying the fear of the situation.(SPOILER ALERT)Bad: Although the actress did a good job, the character itself quickly becomes annoying. I know this film is set in the 40s (so the character can't be expected to know what to do in a scary situation like we do from watching so many scary movies), but there is a fine line between 'being scared stiff' and 'common sense'. I mean, you're in a weird abandoned house, you hear creepy noises coming from upstairs, your father gets murdered, and you decide to wander the house to find out what happened?
- Soundtrack - Good: mysterious and haunting. Bad: clichéd, with the 'nursery-type' music depicting the clash of horror and innocence. It's been done in every film!
- Dialogue - Bad!: the dialogue is hard to hear, and extremely and annoyingly repetitive, only serving to highlight the character's 'dimwittedness'. I mean, how many times does she say 'I don't know'?!
Now for the massive spoilers: the second half twist ending - it comes out of nowhere, and it makes no sense. Now, I don't want to give too much away, but the main problem is that there is no logic to this twist. If the two men had been bringing girls into this house to have sex (including the main character), why would they return with her to the scene of the crime, and why is the house in such a state of disrepair? Why would they pretend? When her 'father gets killed', why does she pretend she doesn't know what's going on, when apparently it was her? If the ghost is her daughter, who is that other 'male' ghost? What was the significance of the faceless paintings? If her daughter was killed (I assume as a baby, from what she says), why does she appear as a little girl? And the most important plot-hole, again, Why does she act through out the first half like she doesn't know what's going on?! There's no one to pretend to except the audience! It makes no sense!
So, final thoughts: The first half was, except for a few silly clichés, acceptably and effectively scary. But the second half just left me saying 'what what what', during the last 20 minutes or so. It wasn't scary, it wasn't 'righteous vengeance', it wasn't creepy or even sweet, it was confusing and absurd. So, I'd give the first half a 7 or 8 out of 10, and the conclusion (which is in my opinion the most important part of any film) a 2 out of 10, for being strange and so completely out of context.
Extended Final Thoughts: Why is the film called 'The Silent House' (or the literal Spanish translation 'The Mute House')? The house (and ghosts) make a lot of noise throughout the film. That was in fact what started everything. What does that have to do with 2 creepy men taking pictures of half-naked girls? They weren't killed, they weren't gagged or 'silenced'. What's the significance?
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