You Better Be Quiet as a Mouse

First, I want to point out that this NEW horror is yet another Jason Blum production. I have REALLY ENJOYED all Blum productions thus far, and this one is no exception. Hush is terrifying! Let me start by saying that the entire film is set in just one location, inside and outside Maddie's (Kate Siegel) house and it works very effectively creating massive tension. The tension persists throughout the entire film but not because of any jump scares. Instead of sudden pop-ups, the film relies on a precisely placed juxtaposition between the masked man and Maddie. What do I mean by that? Much like Terence Young's Wait Until Dark with a blind Audrey Hepburn who is terrorized by three thugs, Hush centers on a deaf-mute who is terrorized by one man.

The fact that Maddie cannot speak or hear drives the tension further. It takes her a while to even realize that someone is watching her and then she must rely primarily on her instincts to stay alive. Siegel is an amazing actress, convincing in her role and a character that demonstrates a rare strength in the face of danger.

I did have a problem with how real it felt and that made watching this a bit difficult for me since I experienced a situation in which I was held at gunpoint by four masked men, though I certainly did not endure the terror that Maddie does. There's a few scenes that are a bit bloody, though not overly gory, which is something unusual to Blum films as he tends to focus more on heightened suspense more than anything else.

Overall, Hush offers a look at a dreadful unnerving situation with a protagonist who has some surprises of her own. I always like a happily ever after, and this film is no exception.

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