How
is it possible the original In Search of overlooked
Mexico’s Mapimí Silent Zone (a.k.a. “The Zone of Silence”)—and yet it did.
However, that left the door wide open for others to exploit the bizarre real-world
phenomenon in conspiracy-driven science fiction. Director-screenwriter Lorena
Villarreal takes us into the Zone and back in Silencio (trailer
here),
which opens today in New York.
This
much is true: The Zone lies roughly on the same latitude as the Bermuda
Triangle and has been a magnet for meteors. In the 1970s, a US Air Force test
missile landed there after veering wildly astray. That is the jumping off point
for Villarreal’s fantastical fiction. Ana’s grandfather James was one of the
scientists working on the recovery mission. He and his protégé Peter chanced
upon a cobalt Macguffin that whisks them back to the accident site where James’
daughter and granddaughters were killed several days earlier. Thanks to his inexplicable
presence, James manages to save Ana, but at a considerable price.
Back
in the present day, Ana’s grandfather is mostly lost inside his dementia-plagued
head. However, he suddenly snaps out of it at 3:33 AM, for complicated reasons involving
the stone, a conspiracy to recover it, and the visions of Ana’s patient Daniel,
who claims (evidently with justification) that he can talk to the dead.
Unfortunately, Grandpa James starts to slip back into his shell before he can remove
the stone from its hiding place, which will put Ana in an awkward position.
In
terms of its internal logic, Villarreal’s narrative does not hold enough water to
nourish the smallest cactus in the Zone of Silence. On the other hand, she has
a nice touch with characterization. The relationship between Ana and her
grandfather is well-drawn and endearing. Unfortunately, the revelation of the secret
bad guy comes as absolutely no surprise, given the limited cast of characters.
Yet, she still maintains everyone’s humanity across the board, in intriguing ways,
even after the big reveal.
John
Noble and Rupert Graves (Lestrade in the Cumberbatch Sherlock) are both terrific as Grandfather James and modern-day Peter.
Likewise, Melina Matthews and Michel Chauvet develop a strong rapport as Ana
and Daniel, which even evolves into romantic interest, because at a certain
point, the doctor-patient relationship is the least of everyone’s concern.
Villarreal
helms with a sensitive touch, getting some nicely turned performances from her small
ensemble and mostly (but not entirely) powering through viewer disbelief.
However, further revisions and polishing of the script would have led to a much
smoother ride for the audience. It is admittedly flawed, but there is some good
work in there that deserves acknowledgment. It is far from a slam dunk, but it
shows tons of promise for Villarreal and company. Recommended for supporters of
Mexican indie cinema (particularly in genre varieties), Silencio opens today (10/26) in New York, at AMC Loews 34th
Street.
