‘Real fear in real time’. The US don’t muck about with their remakes these days. A little over 12 months after a small Uruguayan indie horror called The Silent House was released we have the trailer for the US remake, Silent House. I guess the ever so slightly gimmicky, but technically challenging, premise was too hard to resist – a horror movie made in a single continuous shot. 

Not having seen the original, I’m unsure how closely this remake resembles it. But from what I can gather it’s at least similar – a young women gets trapped in a house after she discovers a stranger is in there with her. Or is there a stranger? As the synopsis below suggests, she may just be losing her mind.

The film’s lead, the sensational Elizabeth Olsen, can certainly pull off ‘losing her mind’ as she showed in one of Admit One’s favourite films of 2011, Martha Marcy May Marlene. So for her alone I’ll probably go and see Silent House. Co-directors Laura Law and Chris Kentis also have some experience with this type of horror/suspense, having previously helmed the low budget indie horror Open Water.

But will it all come together to produce 2012’s best fright-fest or will it become the cliched mess that, apparently, the original is?

Enjoy!

Despite the gimmick the trailer gets pretty creepy towards the end, which is promising. The one shot thing is hardly original though (see 2002’s Russian Ark) and they are playing it up a bit, which is not so promising. And what is with that horrendous voice-over? Hmm, I fear this film may be more style than substance.

I really hope Silent House isn’t a road block in Elizabeth Olsen’s career and provides her yet another opportunity to shine. She was incredible in Martha Marcy May Marlene and deserves some great roles.

So what do you think of the trailer? Gimmick or breath of fresh air?

Trapped insider her family’s lakeside resort, a young woman descends into madness.

Silent House is directed by Laura Law and Chris Kentis, and stars Elizabeth Olsen, Adam Trese, Eric Sheffer Stevens, Julia Taylor Ross and Hayley Murphy.

Only a March release for the US has been scheduled, although it is on the New Zealand release schedule for sometime this year – but listed as undated.