Silent Retreat

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Cast & Crew

Chelsea Jenish
Janey

Robert Nolan
Doctor

Jen Pogue
Pink Stripe

Jennie Foster
Long Bangs

Sofia Banzhaf
Alexis

Matthew Romantini
Albert

Mark Buck
Paul

Katie Buitendyk
Black Glasses

Jenna Jade Rain
Red Hair

Tricia Lee
Director

Corey Brown
Screenwriter

Tricia Lee
Screenwriter

Chris Agoston
Producer

Tricia Lee
Producer

Aaron Gilhuis
Original Music

Christian Bielz
Cinematographer

Mike Reisacher
Film Editor

Jonathan Oliveira
Casting

Jennifer Morden
Production Design

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Critic Reviews for Silent Retreat

Audience Reviews for Silent Retreat

• Mar 27, 2017

  Man, oh man. This is gonna be quite the movie for the Men's Rights Activists (think of that absurdity for a second). It's gonna be a movie of highs and some really low lows. The highs would definitely have to be the fact that the movie takes place at this meditation retreat, where troubled women are sent to in to be rehabilitated from 'crimes' they may have committed or behavior that was deemed undesirable. In reality, the women are being brainwashed by the group of men running the place, a man and his two sons, in order to make them quiet and submissive for the outside world. So they can make a good submissive wife. So, in a way, it's like a Stepford wives mixed with a horror movie. That's what these MRAs want. They want to feel superior, they want to limit access to things that would allow their women to educate themselves and, you know, actually value their own independence without actually needing a man to feel like they're worthy. So, in some part, this film gives them what they want, at first. I do think that the concept, while not necessarily unique (again I point you to the Stepford wives), is quite good all things considered. It's good and the film has some good execution. They do a really strong job at making the villains of the film incredibly effective. While there's some obvious exaggerations here, as in they try too hard to oppress the women, I still think they're a really good as villains. They're obviously the heroes, in this case, to some people, but those people are idiots and not worth paying attention to. Robert Nolan, who plays the Doctor in control of this retreat, is really fucking good in his role. I've never seen Nolan before, as he is based out of Canada, but he was damn good here. He's got the look down pat and the condescending way that he treats the women put in his care is very dickish. He makes for a great villain. The heroines, Alexis and Janey, are both relatable. Particularly when you find out the reason behind their being sent to this retreat. Janey defended herself against an attacker and Alexis staged a pride parade. Chelsea Jenish and Sofia Banzhaf, Janey and Alexis respectively, aren't as good as Mr. Nolan. But I attribute that more to experience than anything else, but they're still fairly solid actresses. Their characters, while not necessarily the most complex, at least are fleshed-out somewhat. You're giving their backstories and what made them the women they are today, so it's not like they're just there to be killed off by the monster that's living in the woods. You grow to care for them and want to see them overcome the situations they're in while also fucking over those who attempted to brainwash them into being someone they were not, someone who would be ready and willing to submit to the first man that showed them any attention. Did I mention there was a monster too? This brings to the horror elements of the film. I don't know where to start. I'm gonna be honest and say that I legitimately did like the movie when it was just Alexis and Janey bonding and trying to find a way to escape this place. Getting to know these characters and their dealings with the Doctor and his sons are some of the best part of the movie. The horror is sprinkled here and there. You get bits and pieces that tease the monster, but it doesn't fully show up until the third act of the movie. The third act will decide, for most people, whether they liked it or not. In my opinion, while there's some good gore, the horror doesn't really add much to the film. I'm not saying that it shouldn't have been there, but the film is about Janey making sure that her voice is heard, the monster stuff feels a bit forced in there. And there's some lame scenes, where the film shows off its lack of budget. The editing during these segments aren't great either. And they try to force in a motherhood angle with the monster in there as well, as everything the monster did was in order to protect its baby that was, honestly, a little awkward. Like it all had to fit in into the same themes the film was exploring. It's not bad, but for how good the rest of the movie actually is, this third act is definitely a bit of a letdown for me. Even though the rating doesn't reflect it, I'd still say that this was a solid movie. It's just that the third act and its implementation of horror kept it from reaching a higher rating. I'd still recommend this, it's got some very interesting ideas about feminism and independence. The end result isn't without its flaws, but it's worth giving a shot.
  Jesse O Super Reviewer

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