Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
British crime drama has sex, violence, strong language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Silent Hours
What's the Story?
In SILENT HOURS, ex-Navy commander turned private detective John Duval (James Weber Brown) finds himself the prime suspect in a police hunt for a sexual killer, after three women are brutally murdered. Police DI Jane Ambrose (Dervla Kirwan) is convinced it's no coincidence that he keeps turning up in the wrong place at the wrong time. But as Navy Commander William Calthorpe (Hugh Bonneville) and psychologist Dr. Catherine Benson (Indira Varma) become entangled in the process, can any evidence or motives really be trusted?
Is It Any Good?
With a bloated running time of over 2.5 hours, there's a strange pacing to this movie that makes sense when considering it was adapted from a three-part drama series. Mark Greenstreet has maintained an episodic structure for Silent Hours, but it doesn't sit particularly well in movie format. Exposition comes thick and fast, with every detail either spoken aloud or pointed out clumsily via camera shot -- the scenes in the psychologist's office are particularly jarring.
Despite the grisly subject matter, the film struggles to conjure much in the way of immediacy or danger, relying on generic, tired genre tropes, without building on the basics. Even narrative techniques where reality shifts, or past events are revisited through a new lens don't feel as clever as they should. Performances get a bit lost in the mix, with Kirwan the only one consistently managing to keep her head above water. This is a classic story that is beginning to feel somewhat outdated -- a tale told a hundred times over and, sadly, a hundred times better.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how women are represented in Silent Hours. What potentially damaging gender stereotypes are used concerning both men and women in the movie? Why must we be careful of stereotyping people?
Discuss the violence in the movie. Was it shocking or thrilling? Did the fact that a lot of the violence happened off-screen make a difference? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
Talk about the strong language used. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
Discuss how the movie portrayed sex and nudity. Was it affectionate/tasteful? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
Talk about the character of John Duvall. Did your feelings toward him change during the movie? If so, in what way?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 8, 2021
- On DVD or streaming : October 8, 2021
- Cast : James Weber Brown , Dervla Kirwan , Hugh Bonneville
- Director : Mark Greenstreet
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Gravitas Ventures
- Genre : Thriller
- Run time : 155 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : February 15, 2023
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