The Silent Hour

An entertaining thriller just do just that -- entertain. It should not present a paradox to the viewer, or do anything which makes it harder for the viewer to identify with the main character. Yet this film actually goes out of its way to do just that. On paper, all the boxes are checked. Brad Anderson is both prolific and successful at his craft. Kinnaman is one of those actors who is easy to relate to, and never gives a bad performance or disapponts. The story is obviously a riff on the Die Hard formula, and pretty hard to mess up as long as you remember to "set up" the action scenes in advance. Even with the checked boxes, the result is a letdown. Giving Kinnaman's character a literal handicap -- even to the point of having him repeatedly fiddle with his hearing aid -- makes it harder to relate to the main character. The Die Hard arc is not well developed, and the action scenes do not deliver on the "killbox" promise that the audience expects. Instead of leaving feeling entertained, one leaves with the feeling that this could have been better done. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

Seeing Kinnaman among the cast was enough to make the decision to watch this movie. He did not disappoint, brought his A game, as usual, and did a more than decent job with the character and script he was given.

All in all this was not the movie of the century, as a matter of fact it would be hard to call it even the movie of the year. But quite honestly, looking at the poster and reading the film's summary, I had a pretty good idea of what I was getting here, and the movie delivered exactly that. It was a story built on a well known, well used and overused formula, with a little twist (the good guys having hearing issues), and that's about it. I did not expect it to be incredibly original, and it wasn't. I expected it to have a few memorable moments, and it did have a few (the protagonist "acquiring" his hearing problem for one). I expected to see a few tired cliches, and they sure were right were you'd think they'd be. And in general, I expected to be entertained for a bit, and I was. The story had a good pace, the runtime was filled with actual action, not pointless fillers. No forced romantic plot lines/sex scenes, no overlong buildup of the starting situation, no monologues and cheesy emotions etc. Just a coherent story that held my interest and kept me engaged.

I wouldn't think that I would feel like re watching it anytime soon, or put it on my all-time-favourites list, but it filled an evening just fine. And with today's abundance of absolutely awful movies, that was just enough.

Yes, okay, you aren't getting anything original, but The Silent Hour is a well made, taut, action Thriller and thoroughly engaged me from start to finish. Good performances from the cast, especially the two leads.

Yes, okay, you aren't getting anything original, but The Silent Hour is a well made, taut, action Thriller and thoroughly engaged me from start to finish. Good performances from the cast, especially the two leads.

Yes, okay, you aren't getting anything original, but The Silent Hour is a well made, taut, action Thriller and thoroughly engaged me from start to finish. Good performances from the cast, especially the two leads.

"The Silent Hour" is a thrilling auditory adventure that plunges us into a world of silence and suspense. Joel Kinnaman's portrayal of a deaf detective, forced to rely on his instincts and a deaf witness, is a masterclass in understated intensity. The film's sound design is a character in itself, creating a palpable sense of isolation and tension. While the plot may be predictable at times, the film's unique premise and strong performances elevate it above the ordinary. "The Silent Hour" is a must-watch for fans of suspenseful thrillers and a testament to the power of storytelling without words.

The Silent Hour starts with an intriguing premise, but quickly falls into the trap of predictability. While the performances are decent, the plot unravels in a way that's easy to foresee, with little to no surprises. The suspense, which is crucial for a thriller of this nature, feels underwhelming as the story progresses. Every twist can be spotted from a mile away, making the film less engaging than it could have been. It's not a bad watch if you're in the mood for something light and don't mind knowing exactly where the story is headed. Sadly, it just doesn't offer enough in terms of originality or tension to stand out.