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such promise ruined by a bad ending (SPOILERS)

posted 13 years ago by somesunnyday
7 replies | jump to latest

I found this really effective and frightening but was bitterly disappointed by the silly ending.

As soon as it starts revealing that she's a nut job and has been doing the killing, all the good work previously shown is undone. The fear factor instantly disappears and ruins the whole effect. It doesn't even really make sense when you look back at what had happened previously during the film.

I thought the first part of the film captured the really scarey last few minutes of the Blair Witch Project when they're in the house and managed to sustain it really well.

It would have been a lot better if it had ended with her being killed or something without any explanation of who or what was doing it.

[–] alkahound 13 years ago

I agree. At the end I'm thinking, It's a continuous shot, so at which point did she kill and tie up her Father and Nestor?

[–] kyyylekey 13 years ago

I agree as well. The alternative interpretation of the ending that I came up with (to avoid accepting the straight-forward "twist" ending) is this: when Laura discovers Nestor incapacitated on the ground, she leaves the room and he wakes up. It's at this point that the POV shifts to Nestor, and the house is now exerting its supernatural influence on him. We've already seen that Laura apparently experienced things that didn't happen (such as the upstairs "Polaroid" scene wherein a man--her father?--runs at her with a knife, but disappears before the point of contact), so it seems quite within the realm of possibility to think that Nestor is now experiencing a similar illusion: he's being dragged/attacked, but not by Laura (thus, she also didn't kill her father). This plausibly explains the awkward exit/re-entrance that Laura does in this scene. The epilogue remains the same: Laura escapes the house and has been traumatized by the experience to the point of hallucinating the appearance of the little girl/her daughter.

If I accept this interpretation, the film is markedly improved, though, as pointed out, it still loses the momentum/sense of dread that it had when she discovers him.

[–] horrorshowmovie 13 years ago

it was a disappointing movie, although the camerawork was sort of cool

I have a lot of respect for the actress considering that she went through all that in a single take, but it doesn't make the movie any more pleasant to watch. It's just an hour of gasping and sobbing punctuated by the occasional JUMP moment

[–] dombrewer 13 years ago

Except she didn't go through it in a single take... basically that was just a lie they used to sell the film to make people see a mediocre horror film.

[–] keeleevoncupcake 13 years ago

I think the ending SAVES the film. I was getting incredibly annoyed with Laura's character, especially in the middle section of the film, to the point where I was wondering if she was actually written to come off like she's mentally disabled. Which was a shame, because this frustration with her horrible and seemingly nonsensical decision making was ruining what was otherwise a VERY creepy, interestingly filmed experience.

But the ending totally justifies her bizarre behavior! Once we know that, we can explain all her earlier weirdness (carefully examining the bookcase - like you're going to find your missing father there? agreeing to go back in the house at all, for any reason?) as "Laura-vision", and view it as all part of the extended freaky psychotic episode it actually is.

For example, I think in the "real" world, Laura actually convinced Nestor to go back into the house, instead of the seriously off conversation in the truck they appeared to have. In the room with the bookcase he even seems to be annoyed that they're there and trying to convince her to leave with him - something that doesn't make sense unless its actually Laura who wants to be there, which turns out to be true.

It may lose the "what the hell kind of supernatural nonsense is going on here?" sense of dread at this point, but the tension is sustained by the newly revealed madness of Laura. For example, that shot of her just tilting her head at him as Nestor dies is simply disturbing. At that point I was simultaneously frightened of and cheering for her, as those two men pretty much got what they deserved.

Finally, I just love the epilogue with her "daughter". It's so sweet, like a happy ending for Laura, while still managing to creep the viewer out and prevent any "is she or isn't she dead?" confusion in regards to the little girl. Its wonderful. I love The Silent House.

[–] tkip19 12 years ago

The movie starts with promise but then it quickly unravels and becomes a disappointing drama piece that doesn't make any sense. She was nuts and I think the movie reflected her mental state..

[–] zharth 11 years ago

I agree completely. I had the same exact thought when the 'revelation' was dropped.