The plot is based on a true story that happened in the late '40s in a small village in Uruguay. The film focuses on Laura, who, second by second, intends to leave a house, which hides an ... See full summary »Director:
Gustavo Hernández
Writers:
Oscar Estévez (screenplay), Gustavo Hernández (story) | 1 more credit »
Stars:
Florencia Colucci, Abel Tripaldi, Gustavo Alonso Storyline
The plot is based on a true story that happened in the late '40s in a small village in Uruguay. The film focuses on Laura, who, second by second, intends to leave a house, which hides an obscure secret, unharmed. Laura and her father Wilson settle down in a cottage they have to renew since its owner will soon put the house up for sale. They will spend the night there and repair the following morning. Everything seems to go smoothly until Laura hears a sound that comes from outside and gets louder and louder on the upper floor of the house. Wilson goes up to see what is going on while she remains downstairs on her own, waiting for her father to come down. Written by Anonymous
Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis
Plot Keywords:
real time | ghost in a photograph | uninterrupted shot | cabin | murderess | See All (47) »
Taglines:
Real Fear In Real Time
Genres:
Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller
Certificate:
Not Rated | See all certifications »
Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
Details
Official Sites:
Official site | Official site [Uruguay]
Country:
Uruguay
Language:
Spanish
Release Date:
4 March 2011 (Uruguay) See more »
Also Known As:
The Silent House See more »
Filming Locations:
Montevideo, Uruguay See more »
Box Office
Budget:
$6,000 (estimated)
See more »
Company Credits
Production Co:
Tokio Films See more »
Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
86 min | 78 min
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Recorded with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR photographic camera, shot over four days, with $6000 budget, two hand held lamps and a few light tubes. See more »
Connections
Remade as Silent House (2011) See more »
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User Reviews
Let down by foul plot holes
31 October 2012 | by Danny_G13 (Glasgow, Scotland) – See all my reviews
I'm going to put my cards on the table; up until the 'twist', this is actually a very good horror tale - chilling, atmospheric and gritty - psychologically well conceived and goes towards the 'Ring' side of terror rather than the Texas Chainsaw Massacre direction.
Unfortunately the twist undoes everything leading up to it, and was so woefully contrived that it makes no sense and is purely for initial shock value. Before the viewer then pieces it all together and realises there's zero coherence between pre-twist story and post-twist.
Laura is a young lady, accompanying her father to a property in Uruguay, where they meet family friend Nestor to help clean the place out for a client who is trying to sell the place. However, as soon as her father goes for a nap, Laura becomes embroiled in horror and finds herself hunted.
As for as atmosphere and cinematography goes, the single-camera adds and detracts at the same time. While the viewer always feels 'with' Laura, the inability to switch to a different point of view for dramatic license forces the viewer to always remember she's a character and an actress is playing her. Notable examples are when Laura views something the camera cannot see - rather than switch to her 'eye view' mode, the camera literally has to swoop in on it to show the audience. Which makes it feel slightly bizarre - that would happen in a documentary, not in a fictional movie.
But it does all feel claustrophobic and some of the solitary camera moments are well-designed.
The problem is that twist - that twist which renders the first half completely null and void. Unlike other reviews I will not spoil it, but the number of holes it leaves basically undermines absolutely everything which went before it.
It gives far too many questions, and there is one question alluded to in another review which, when asked on realisation of the twist, makes the film's first half genuinely stupid.
This was a good idea - a single camera (if not a single shot) and a tight, chilling, claustrophobic horror with mild violence and plenty of unseen (and seen) chills. The twist, alas, takes it from 9/10 to only 6.
Sad.
