SXSW Film 2016 Review: HUSH

By Mark Saldana 

Rating: 3.5 (Out of 4 Stars) 

Horror fans have seen similar slasher films, but this one has one major difference.  The main protagonist of the film is hearing impaired and unable to speak or scream.  This story/character choice for the main character only adds to the suspense and horror.  Don’t get me wrong, though.  Kate Siegel portrays an awesome character in Maddie, a woman who is willing to fight back hard to survive.  

Maddie is a successful writer undergoing problems in her love life and suffering writer’s block. Alone in her quiet and peaceful home, the author gets targeted by a psychotic attacker (John Gallagher) who not only wishes to kill Maddie, but wants to toy with her first.  Her masked tormentor seems to enjoy this nasty game of fear, timing and wits, but will eventually stop at nothing to cut her down.

Written by Kate Siegel and Mike Flannagan, and directed by Flannagan, Hush may not be a major game changer when it comes to slasher horror, but it does deliver the goods that the horror fans love when it comes to this subgenre.  Flannagan builds up the tension and suspense beautifully and the shocks will rock audiences in their seats.  The film made for a great Midnighter selection during the film festival and will open in select theaters on Friday, March 24 and will be on Netflix Streaming on April 8.

 

 

 

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