Silence & Darkness was a bold and beautiful atmospheric song and dance. Gorgeous cinematography and phenomenal acting performances brought this wonderfully dark tale to life. There are many predictable and familiar elements, but Silence & Darkness is unique in its own right thanks to the immersive and emotionally moving ambiance.

Silence & Darkness chronicles the day-to-day life of a family of three. Daughter Anna (Mina Walker) is blind and daughter Beth (Joan Glackin) is deaf. The two are inseparable and help each other with daily tasks at home while Father (Jordan Lage) mans his medical practice in town. Things are less idyllic than they appear after a neighbor discovers a maggot laden bone in their backyard. The discovery sparks something in Anna and sets off something dark in Father, leaving the once superficially happy family forever rearranged. 

Mina Walker and Joan Glackin were absolutely STUNNING in their respective roles. Walker and Glackin displayed wonderful on-screen chemistry. Their performances produced a powerful look at the intensity and depth of Beth and Anna’s relationship, giving audiences the ability to instantly connect and sympathize with these endearing sisters. 

The scenes are long and minimal in terms of action, leaving the primary focus on the everyday existence of Anna and Beth and their relationship. Silence & Darkness is almost entirely played out by action and observation rather than verbally moving the story forward. This lack of dialogue and action meant that the vitality of the scene being played out (and the film itself) depended almost solely on nonverbal forms of communication along with Walker and Glackin’s ability to carry the scene. This is a challenging film style to accomplish successfully but was done artfully so both through writer/director Barak Barkan’s story, and Walker and Glackin’s captivating performances. 

Speaking of performances, I particularly enjoyed Walker’s performance as Anna while having a faux family dinner. She assumes the role of herself, her sister Beth, and their father during the dinner and it was quite charming to watch. Jordan Lage serves as a wonderfully dark and unsettling antagonist. His almost sickeningly sweet demeanor is so fragile, and behind that thin veil, we catch glimpses into his true nature, one of depravity and control. 

The atmosphere of Silence & Darkness is one of beauty and tranquility. The quiet countryside was a sight to behold. But that beautiful atmosphere was saturated with loneliness and anxiety. The secluded setting, gray colorization, minimal presence of others all evoked this sense of isolation and loneliness, further personifying the strained life experiences of Anna and Beth. 

I LOVED LOVED LOVED the ending sequence. Though there was a degree of predictability, stylistically, Barkan chose to have the audience see what is going on through Anna’s ears (a blurry screen and heightened sound) and Beth’s eyes (crystal clear picture but total silence). This stylistic choice plunges audiences even further into Anna and Beth’s experience. And because this choice was so gripping,  I am fairly certain I didn’t blink for the last 10 minutes of the movie.

Any fan of artistic and atmospheric horror films will fall in love with Silence & Darkness. This is not an action-packed thriller, but rather a thriller of the heart. You become emotionally invested in the characters and immersed in their world of silence, darkness, and love for each other. The film is now available on VOD and Digital streaming platforms.

8 out of 10