The Silencing 2020

The film begins with a haunting image of a deceased individual dressed in vibrant colors, being swept away in the wild white-water rapids. In a separate scene, we encounter a pair of hunters preparing to take down a deer. However, Rayburn Swanson intervenes, seizing their guns and confronting them about their trespassing in a protected sanctuary. The hunters are clearly familiar with Rayburn, and their exchange reveals that he once shared their passion for hunting. “People change,” Rayburn asserts, to which one hunter retorts, “No they don’t.”

Returning home, Rayburn is welcomed by his loyal dog, Thor, while we learn that he has installed surveillance equipment to keep an eye on the sanctuary. We are introduced to Sheriff Alice Gustafson, who picks up her brother, Brooks, from the local tribal police chief, Karl Blackhawk. Brooks appears to have been in a scuffle yet remains reluctant to share the details of what transpired. As Alice drives him home, he confesses to being involved in a fight over a girl—specifically with a man named Sam Moonblood. Brooks expresses unease upon passing a barn, just as Alice receives a call regarding a homicide investigation.

Later, Rayburn takes a group of schoolchildren on a field trip, albeit while slightly inebriated. He proudly explains his role as the manager of a vast 50-square-mile sanctuary, yet one child reminds him of his past as a notable hunter. Rayburn brushes it off, mentioning that he abandoned that lifestyle because of his daughter’s disapproval.

Alice and her team investigate the washed-up body of a young girl, learning through forensic examination that her body likely entered the water a week ago and was dropped there after her death. Disturbingly, they discover a spearhead lodged in a nearby tree, leading them to hypothesize that she may have been hunted for sport.

As Rayburn canvasses the town hanging missing person posters for his daughter, Gwen, he encounters Blackhawk and his wife, Debbie, who is also Rayburn’s ex-spouse. They discuss the impending funeral Blackhawk is organizing for Gwen, and Debbie urges Rayburn to legally presume Gwen’s death so they can issue a death certificate.

Back in her office, Alice inspects the spearhead, discovering the initials “MB” etched into it. Meanwhile, Rayburn stumbles across news coverage of the unidentified girl’s body, compelling him to seek out answers. In a poignant moment between Alice and Brooks, we learn about their tragic childhood filled with trauma, and Brooks’s unease leads him to question Alice about her loyalty should he find himself in grave trouble.

When Rayburn encounters a mysterious figure in a camo suit disrupting his surveillance, he gathers his hunting gear and sets off to confront the intruder. However, he soon finds himself under attack and suffers an injury. Although he evades capture, he discovers a pickup truck belonging to the hunter, marking it with an “x” to identify it later.

As the plot thickens, Alice learns about the spear at a local hunting gear shop, where an expert informs her of its historical significance and connects her to Sam Moonblood. In the woods, Rayburn finds a girl, who introduces herself as Molly, and together, they hide in a bunker to protect themselves from further danger.

Alice’s investigation leads her to Moonblood’s hideout, where she discovers spearheads with the same initials, further linking him to the grisly events. As Alice and Rayburn’s paths continue to cross, tensions escalate when Rayburn ends up confronting the hunter and inadvertently gets shot by Alice, who is trying to protect her brother.

In the climactic showdown, as the truth begins to unravel regarding the dark secrets held by those in the town, Rayburn’s motives for seeking out his daughter are revealed in a tragic twist, culminating in a harrowing confrontation with Dr. Boone, whose hidden past comes to light in the most shocking ways.

The film ultimately culminates in a somber funeral for Gwen, casting a deep shadow of grief and unresolved questions over the characters. As the barn where many dark events transpired is demolished, the mystery of the troubled past continues to haunt the survivors, particularly Rayburn, who stands at a crossroads, confronted with the chilling memories of his choices. The screen fades with Rayburn contemplating pouring out the whiskey that symbolizes the tragic day Gwen disappeared, sealing the narrative with a lingering sense of sorrow and reflection.