Good character development, strong performances, and relatively little gore distinguish this effort from the usual slasher fare. Until last year it had been lost in the mysterious, silvery mists of screen-scream antiquity.īarbara Steele stars as the villain in this dated '80's American-made shocker. Newly released on DVD after 29 years, The Silent Scream is a noteworthy entry in this later category of period horror. Odd films like these dwell on a darker, more rarefied level, one that hasn't been visited much in the intervening years.

The decade also produced a couple of dozen unusual and distinctive efforts such as Fade To Black, My Bloody Valentine, Grandma's House, and Motel Hell. The 1980's produced a glut of highly conventional, large-draw slasher flicks such as Friday The 13th and the Halloween sequels. PLOT: College students rent rooms in a mysterious mansion by the beach only to find that the landlords are a tad invasive.ĬOMMENTS: The Silent Scream is a dated relic of the 'Unusual '80's' horror movie phenomenon. rewritten by Jim and Ken WheatįEATURING: Barbara Steele, Rebecca Balding, Cameron Mitchell, Yvonne De Carlo, Brad Reardon, and Avery Schreiber I simply wish that the script could have be revised and its ideas refined to make this one truly standout. Still for all its imperfections, it's an entertaining ride from start to finish and I had fun watching the film. Silent Scream is a must for genre fans but if you're keen on low budget shockers, then this one is not for you. As obscured Slashers are concerned, this one delivers, but it could have been rewritten to expand on its interesting ideas that the director tried to convey. As a whole, it's not the worst in the genre, but is not the best either. If you love films like this, give this one a shot, but it does leave room for improvement and it is a film clearly has its limitations, but manages to be an entertaining Slasher yarn due to the fact that the film has good sequences of murder and a few tense moments. The performances are decent at best, but the strength of the film lies in its kill sequences which are well thought out and will certainly put you on the edge of your seat. While relying on the traditional genre elements, Silent Scream is still one of those obscured gems that will delight fans even if it's predictable. Even if it's not a perfect film, this is a must see for genre fans, and it works as mindless entertainment.

The kills are well done, and there is a steady build up to the first murders, which gives the film a tense atmosphere. Diehard Slasher fans will certainly love this one, especially if you enjoy obscured, forgotten horror films, Silent Scream is for you. What we have here is a film that is entertaining, but doesn't break new ground and it is predictable. Obscured Slasher film is a good little shocker, but one that relies on the traditional genre formula in order to create the carnage on-screen.

Silent scream book review