MovieChat Forums > Silent Retreat (2015) Discussion > Watchable.. kinda

Watchable.. kinda

posted 9 years ago by beavertoof
15 replies | jump to latest

Doubt anyone will ever read this as wow this board is dead.. but what the heck, I'll post something to get things started haha.

This has some decent stuff in it. Good setting, is filmed very nicely, and has good performances by the two main gals in it.

As to the bad.. there is some amateurish editing that make some scenes very jerky, some painful performances by the two younger guys, some really implausible plot lines.

But overall, it is decent if you are bored and in the mood for kind of a cross between a women-in-prison flick and "The Village".

[–] A-Zupreme 9 years ago

*spoilers*

I actually watched this one tonight on Amazon Prime and really enjoyed it.

One thing that did bother me was that the 'creature' resembled the monsters in 'The Descent' far too much. It was almost uncanny, since they moved, hunted, and even looked the same. Perhaps the creators of this never heard of 'The Descent', and if which case, it's a shame that they missed out on probably one of the best horror films of the 2000s. I was for sure that this was going to be the blaring criticism when I came to this board, only I'm surprised that no one has really commented on this film at all.

I agree that the setting and performance of the actresses were very well done. I would have liked to see some kind of development with the main villains (the human villains, anyway), with the boys showing some type of individuality or something to make them a bit less cardboard. They hinted at it with the son having a crush on that one chick, but they never went anywhere with it which was a shame. The baby monster also didn't add much to the overall storyline, so why add it? Also, why did they have to stay in that area if they knew they had to be silent and were just as much in danger of the monster as any of the girls? Didn't seem to really make sense... unless I'm forgetting something, which is a possibility. lol

Side note... I liked that you compared it to 'The Village' - I loved the premise in that film and was totally bummed with how that film ended up. This film at least made the outside threat real so they at least did it right by my expectations. Overall it was a solid watch for what it was, anyway.

[–] beavertoof 9 years ago

Wow.. can't believe someone else posted on this obscure flick! cool..

I too watched it on Amazon Prime.. there are alot of clunkers but occasionally some gems or at least fun flicks which I put this one in with that group.

re: 'The Descent'.. your right! I knew that thing reminded me of something, and yes that was a really good flick.

Really, I kind of thought they could have just left the creature out of it, and just had the family be the only "bad guys".. they were creepy enough, well at least the dad was, as you mentioned, the two sons were like cardboard cutouts for all the emotion they rendered.

They hinted at it with the son having a crush on that one chick, but they never went anywhere with it which was a shame.

yeah, they should have done something with that... that is a classic plot device, but a good one.

...why did they have to stay in that area if they knew they had to be silent and were just as much in danger of the monster as any of the girls? Didn't seem to really make sense

I think the premise was that the dad felt the monster "saved" him from his humdrum life where he was unhappy with his wife who would not conform to his idea's.. the monster munched her so the dad kept using it to get rid of the girls he deemed as "failures"... I dunno, not saying that still makes a whole lotta sense, I mean at some point wouldn't someone come looking for all this gals that go missing once sent to his "silent retreat".. but anyway, often movie plots don't make much sense haha.

I liked that you compared it to 'The Village' - I loved the premise in that film and was totally bummed with how that film ended up.

yeah, unlike most people, I love that flick. Not perfect but close IMO.. had it been done with just a few differences I think it would be a classic.

re Amazon flicks... I just started "Devoured".. I'm only about 20 minutes into it, but showing great promise.

[–] A-Zupreme 9 years ago

Yeah, I love watching a good variety of horror flicks, both good, bad, so-bad-its-good, you name it. In fact, I usually always watch one every night whether it be on Netflix or Amazon Prime. I believe 'Devoured' is on my Watch List, in fact.

The best is when I watch a flick that is actually halfway decent, especially if I go into it with no expectations. The last time I was super impressed with an Amazon Prime selection was 'Unrest' ... what a fun little flick that was and the main actress was really hot. As Netflix, I was really impressed with 'The Frozen'. I don't think either are super mainstream, so if you haven't seen them you should check them out.

[–] beavertoof 9 years ago

Hey.. i agree that Unrest was a great little find! I posted on that board awhile back.

I will look for "The Frozen".. hope Amazon has it too as I don't have netflix.

good to find another fan of all the varieties of flicks out there.. i try to find what is good in each.. -usually- there is something worthwhile to enjoy.

[–] A-Zupreme 9 years ago

For sure, keep me posted on anything cool or good that you've seen. 

[–] BlackDog123 9 years ago

Hello! If you get a sec, do you mind explaining what the deal with the monster baby was? I fell asleep and woke up as it was being born (and accidentally sent it back to Netflix without re-watching!).

Also, I love indie horror! If you aren't too hung up on things making sense, Crazy Eights is pretty creepy (you'll get a headache trying to figure out wtf is happening, so don't strain yourself). Also I loved The Babadook and Jessabelle was much better than I expected!

They're coming to get you, Barbara!

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] beavertoof 9 years ago

.. explaining what the deal with the monster baby was?

hmmm... has been awhile and have seen so many flicks since so I don't really remember but it seems like it was just kinda randomly thrown into the plot suddenly and they didn't really go anywhere with it.

Maybe it was to leave an option for a sequel open?? I can't remember now but I think the adult creature dies when she screams loud enough to explode its ears/head, but the baby i guess was still alive somewhere?

Crazy Eights is pretty creepy (you'll get a headache trying to figure out wtf is happening, so don't strain yourself).

I saw Crazy 8's and kinda liked it too.

[–] A-Zupreme 9 years ago

I wasn't overly crazy about Crazy Eights, it seemed like they built up way too much suspense that never really paid off at the end.

I think the baby monster in this film was supposed to explain why the monster was much more aggressive than it had been in the past, since the camp clearly had been there for a while and an attack had never occurred to the extent that it did as seen in this film. That's all I took from it.

[–] heyteegs 9 years ago

Yea, I absolutely thought of The Descent as they introduced the creature. And at least the whole Stepford thing was somewhat original. I think they had too much going on though with the creature, the baby, the cabin. It's like they threw in everything and the kitchen sink when one of those would've been enough. Also should've explored the whole doctor/judge connection. It was interesting to have the lead girl kill the second lead girl - didn't see that coming. It was definitely watchable .. kinda.

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[–] wgrant-09122 7 years ago

The creatures look like the falmer from skyrim

[–] jjett123 9 years ago

i just watched this and i thought it was pretty good! yes, the creature design looks a bit goofy and somewhat poorly done but everything else about the movie was really good.

[–] DinaBee 7 years ago

I watched this last night on THE CHILLER CHANNEL. I missed the first 15 minutes or so, but it didn't take long to catch on to where they were and what was up.
It wasn't great ...... too many sub stories seemed unfinished ...... but I love bloody old school horror films .... and that DAD/DOCTOR ..... was just the most sinister, evil person EVVVV-ERRRR .....
I felt bad for the sons ..... kept thinking that one was going to go against his Dad, because he really liked one of the girls......

The baby monster was way out of left field ..... but creepy as sh**......... like it made you think there were MORE of them out there....

The end was, like so many, nonsensical ......

All in ALL .... it was a good evening's entertainment ..... some jump scares and lots of gore.

By the way ....
I liked THE DESCENT
Hated THE VILLAGE
I liked CRAZY EIGHTS, BABADOOK, UNREST and THE FROZEN.

Dina B.

[–] jjohns217-350-891341 7 years ago

I also just watched it on "Chiller".

I actually really liked this movie. It did have some things that could have been better like the son"s crush on the girl.

Agree that the baby was why they were more aggressive in the camp than ever before. Over all I enjoyed it. It was more like an old fashioned creature feature.

[–] Platypuschow 7 years ago

Not sure what was about the film but I simply couldn't get into it.

Don't get me wrong it wasn't appalling but it just didn't "Click" with me as if it was just missing that oh so important piece that would have made it watchable.

"Be the change you wish to see in the world"

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