“Silent Retreat” – Scary vibes and awkward silence around the campfire

So, last Tuesday night I got myself comfortable in my old fav armchair (the one with the rödvin stains leftover från that unforgettable Ingmar Bergman-marathon accident circa 2015, you remember), all ready to be creeped out by “Silent Retreat.” I mean, come on! Creepy getaway spot, isolation, silence—recipe for goosebumps deluxe. Except, it turned out more “meh” än exklusiv rysare.

First up though, the big draw: seeing the talented Chelsea Jenish playing Janey, and Sofia Banzhaf as Alexis—they both got skills, no doubt, and director Tricia Lee has been shaking things up in indie-horror scene. And let’s face it, Canadian horror flicks usually hit the spot like fresh kanelbullar on a rainy Göteborg afternoon.

But this one left me a bit confused. One moment it gives you those cozy old-school horror vibes à la “Friday 13th” meets mindfulness retreat gone wrong, next you’re scratching your head wondering where exactly they’re trying to go. Silence as punishment—cool premise to explore anxiety around speaking up, sure, yet the actual scares were kinda inconsistent. Tension sometimes felt kinda forced—you know when you’re waiting for something devastatingly scary and all you get is some weird breathing noises in the bushes? Yeah, exactly, not enough köttbullar on that plate.

Funny enough, the best scare I got was completely unintended: halfway through, no kidding, my neighbour Lars started yelling at the fotboll game—I almost spilled glöggen on my fancy new slippers!

Still, there’s something oddly appealing här. The mood, the visuals, and the cast—especially Chelsea—got moments that makes me think I might give this another chance down the line.

Såja, maybe watch “Silent Retreat” for the mood rather than actual chills. And possibly with Lars quiet, yeah?

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