(dir. John Pogue)
*First time viewing
Inspired
by true events, The Quiet Ones
centers on a psychologist who, along with two of his best students and a
cameraman, attempts to cure mental illness through a parapsychology experiment
on a young woman with telekinetic abilities. The film attempts to explore the separation
between the occult and science, but these ideas are swallowed up by dry
exposition and a muddled plot.
I was
hoping Hammer Films’ work on this would match the same quality as their other recent
revival films, Let Me In and The Woman In Black. Unfortunately, The Quiet Ones takes an interesting event and turns it into a lifeless affair, nearly devoid of tension. The biggest issue
is the film’s lack of identity. It’s part found-footage and part traditional
film, it's part serious drama and part clichéd gimmickry. None of these parts
are fully effective, resulting in a film that feels like compromised play at the
current paranormal horror boom. While true horror dramas have somewhat fallen
by the wayside in mainstream efforts, it’s a shame that the The Quiet Ones
couldn’t have taken a risk with the story and delivered something truly memorable.
Scare Factor: 1/5 There’s nothing terrifying about
the The Quiet Ones and even the jump
scares lack effectiveness. Despite some solid performances by Jared Harris and
Olivia Cooke, it’s a disappointing effort for what could have been a very original
and adult horror film.
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