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PRIVATE PROPERTY |
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WARNING: MATURE CONTENT |
- ❝ Silence is Gold, Screams are Deadly!❞
- ―Movie tagline
The Voiceless is a 2024 American supernatural horror film directed by Andy Chen and written by Fred Dekker. The film stars Dean Woodward, Elle Fanning, Rebecca Hall, John Hill, and Keith Allan. It was released by Netflix on June 13, 2024. The film explores themes of sensory processing disorders, supernatural vengeance, and the trauma of silence.
Plot[]
A young boy named Jacob is forced to live in isolation by a hooded killer known as The Silencer. The killer has kidnapped Jacob and forces him to witness the brutal murders of women whose heads explode whenever they make a sound. Jacob discovers he has a unique supernatural trigger: if he shouts the word "Quiet!", the head of anyone making noise explodes instantly.
The community falls into a panic, fearing for their lives if they scream or make loud noises. Sydney Owen, a former muted student, is hired to babysit Jacob. She soon uncovers the terrifying truth: Jacob suffers from severe misophonia and has been manipulated into killing anyone who makes noise. Sydney resolves to help Jacob find a cure for his condition and break free from the serial killer's control so he can speak again.
Synopsis[]
In a quiet suburban neighborhood, a young woman's head violently explodes without warning, baffling local authorities. Rumors spread of a supernatural entity targeting loud people.
The story focuses on Jacob Townsend (Dean Woodward), a reclusive young boy living under the strict supervision of his parents, Suzy (Rebecca Hall) and Nathan (John Hill). They keep their home completely silent, terrified of triggering Jacob's "episodes." Jacob suffers from a severe form of misophonia—a condition where specific sounds trigger intense emotional distress and anger. Unbeknownst to the family, Jacob is being visited by Dean (Keith Allan), a mysterious hooded figure known as "The Silencer." Dean has been manipulating Jacob's trauma, turning the boy into a weapon. Whenever Dean is present, Jacob feels an uncontrollable urge to scream "Quiet!", causing the heads of any noisemakers to burst.
Sydney Owen (Elle Fanning), a young woman who lost her ability to speak due to a traumatic childhood incident, is hired by the Townsends to watch over Jacob while they run errands. Sydney communicates via a text-to-speech app and is exceptionally sensitive to the needs of the "voiceless." Initially, the arrangement works, as Sydney’s quiet presence keeps Jacob calm. However, the peace is shattered when a police officer, Officer Barrows, arrives at the door to check on the residence. He speaks loudly, triggering Jacob's reflex. Despite Sydney’s attempts to intervene, Jacob screams "Quiet!", causing the officer's head to explode violently. Sydney realizes that Jacob is not just mentally unstable but is a weaponized killer.
Sydney discovers that The Silencer has been visiting Jacob, reinforcing the boy's trauma. She begins to suspect that Jacob’s "curse" is supernatural in origin, tied to his inability to cope with the noise of the world. Sydney decides to help Jacob rather than turn him in. She learns that The Silencer plans to use Jacob to cleanse the world of "noise" permanently.
The film escalates as The Silencer begins targeting people in the town who are known for being loud, including a bank clerk who screams in terror. Meanwhile, Suzy and Nathan realize too late that their isolation has made Jacob a monster. A violent confrontation ensues in the Townsend home. The Silencer arrives, intending to kill Sydney for interfering and take Jacob away. In the climax, Sydney realizes that the only way to break the connection between Jacob and The Silencer is to embrace sound rather than suppress it. She connects her phone to a massive sound system and blasts a loud, chaotic song. The noise is overwhelming, causing Jacob immense pain but forcing him to confront his trauma. The Silencer attempts to silence the noise, but Sydney and Jacob scream together—not the word "Quiet!", but a primal scream of defiance. The sonic backlash targets The Silencer himself. Because he is the source of the "silence," the sound overloads his physiology, causing his head to explode into pieces.
With The Silencer dead, the supernatural hold over Jacob breaks. He is no longer compelled to kill when he hears noise, though he remains traumatized. The film ends with Jacob speaking for the first time in a soft whisper, apologizing to Sydney, who smiles in relief.
Cast[]
- Dean Woodward as Jacob Townsend
- Elle Fanning as Sydney Owen
- Rebecca Hall as Suzy Townsend
- John Hill as Nathan Townsend
- Keith Allan as Dean / The Silencer
- Helen Moneypenny as girl victim 1
- Tilda Cobham-Hervey as girl victim 2
- Nina Ryder as girl victim 3
Victims[]
- Three girls: Tortured to death by The Silencer.
- Officer Barrows: His head was blown up by Jacob's word "Quiet!"
- A college girl: She screamed at a sight of The Silencer before her brain exploded.
- Bank clerk: He screamed like a sacredly cat before his head blown up.
- Dean / The Silencer: His brain was blow it to pieces after Jacob and Sydney sing a loud song.
Survivor(s)[]
- Jacob Townsend
- Sydney Owen
- Suzy Townsend
- Nathan Townsend
Production[]
Development for The Voiceless began in early 2022, with Andy Chen attached to direct a script by Fred Dekker. Chen cited The Babadook (2014) and A Quiet Place (2018) as key influences for the film's tone and sound design. Filming took place primarily in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, from August to October 2023. The production team worked with sound designers to create a sonic landscape where silence itself becomes a source of tension.
Music[]
Kurt Majors composed the score, utilizing low-frequency tones to simulate auditory distress.
Featured song[]
- "Silent Scream" - Anna Blue (2017)
- "Whispers in the Dark" - Skillet (2006)
- "Hush" - Hellyeah (2014)
- "Echo" - Incubus (2001)
- "Dead Silence" - Billy Talent (2012)
- "Creeping Death" - Metallica (1984)
- "Silent Hill" - Akira Yamaoka (1999)
- "Burial" - Extol (1998)
- "Quiet" - MILCK (2017)
- "Noise" - Nightwish (2020)
Release[]
The Voiceless had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 8, 2024. It was subsequently released on Netflix globally on June 13, 2024. The film received an "R" rating from the MPAA for intense horror violence, strong language, and disturbing images. Despite its limited theatrical run, the film garnered significant attention on the streaming platform.
Reception[]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 72% of 145 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.5/10. The website's consensus reads, "While the premise is derivative of modern horror trends, The Voiceless effectively utilizes its sound design and a standout performance from Elle Fanning to create moments of genuine terror."
Metacritic assigned the film a weighted average score of 61 out of 100, based on 28 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews."
Critics praised the film's unique premise and sound design. The Hollywood Reporter noted, "Chen turns silence into a weapon, using the absence of sound to make every sudden noise feel like a gunshot." However, some criticism was directed at the third act's reliance on standard horror tropes. Common Sense Media rated the film 3 out of 5 stars, warning of its "graphic and sudden violence" suitable for older teens.
Trivia[]
- Rated R for intense horror violence, strong language, and/or disturbing scary images.
- The movie draws inspiration from the concept of misophonia and the "creepypasta" urban legend of "The Silence Entity."
- The sound design in the film is notable for its use of "silence" as a jump-scare mechanic, where sudden loud noises are more shocking than the violence itself.