Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Action thriller

The Silencing (2020): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

The Silencing (2020) movie poster

The Silencing is a 2020 action thriller directed by Robin Pront, starring Annabelle Wallis as Alice Gustafson, Zahn McClarnon and Charlotte Lindsay Marron. It runs 1 hour 33 minutes and earned $170,653 worldwide. Critics gave it 24% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10.

IMDb rating
6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
24%
worldwide gross
$170.7K
Echo Score
67
Loading streaming availability…
The Silencing (2020) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 33m (93 min)
Director
Robin Pront
Genres
Action , Thriller , Crime
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Silencing About?

The premise of The Silencing without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

Five years after a young girl vanished, a former hunting expert and a determined sheriff join forces to investigate the unsettling disappearance. Haunted by their own pasts, they must confront a long-standing mystery and navigate a deadly pursuit as they attempt to uncover the truth behind the possible abduction and the secrets hidden within the community.

The Silencing Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • wildlife sanctuary
  • serial killer
  • dead girl
  • sheriff
  • revenge
  • human hunting a human
  • atlatl
  • hunting
  • missing person
  • alcohol abuse
  • indian reservation
  • alcoholic
+38 more
  • rural setting
  • missing person poster
  • dead body floating in a river
  • forensics
  • hunter
  • cat and mouse
  • murder
  • dead body
  • woods
  • brother sister relationship
  • spear
  • rifle
  • tribal police
  • truck battery
  • cabin on a lake
  • drug den
  • knuckle cracking
  • school tour
  • fur trapper
  • deadfall trap
  • flint head spears
  • handing out flyers
  • ex wife
  • ghillie suit
  • trail cameras
  • elk
  • black truck
  • ford f150 pickup truck
  • bare chested male
  • barn
  • held hostage
  • tied and gagged
  • doctor
  • drugged man
  • removing surveillance camera
  • death certificate
  • funeral
  • woman in jeopardy
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

The Silencing Cast & Characters

Annabelle Wallis leads the cast as Alice Gustafson, with Zahn McClarnon as Blackhawk and Charlotte Lindsay Marron as Molly. Directed by Robin Pront; 11 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Robin Pront

More films directed by Robin Pront, best-rated first: The Ardennes, Zillion, Zuur and Plan B.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Silencing Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Silencing 24% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 67/100, strongest in art & craft (80) and weakest in story & flow (50).

67 /100

The Silencing Echo Score Breakdown

In its blend of moody visuals and solid performances, The Silencing delivers competent craft but is hindered by uneven narrative momentum. The film’s direction and production design consistently establish an immersive rural atmosphere, while Coster-Waldau and the supporting cast provide credible character work. However, recurrent plot inconsistencies and pacing lulls dilute engagement, leaving several narrative threads underdeveloped. Ultimately, the net effect is a thriller that succeeds in style and performance but falls short of cohesive storytelling appeal.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 80

    In terms of visual craftsmanship, The Silencing demonstrates consistent competence in its direction and cinematography. The film’s restrained color palette and measured shot compositions reinforce its rural thriller ambience. While editing occasionally treads familiar territory, scenic framing and production design effectively evoke the backwoods setting. Overall, the film’s artful elements reliably support its atmospheric intent.

  • Character & Emotion 70

    In terms of character depth, performances anchor the film with varying success. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau delivers a sympathetic lead portrayal, and several supporting roles exhibit genuine emotional resonance. However, occasional lapses in character motivation and implausible decision-making undermine credibility. As a result, the emotional core remains intermittently engaging but does not fully realize its dramatic potential.

  • Story & Flow 50

    In terms of narrative flow, The Silencing struggles with uneven pacing and logic gaps. Plot red herrings and abrupt twists generate intermittent suspense but often feel underexplained, while the procedural framework lacks originality. Although moments of genuine intrigue briefly engage, recurrent inconsistencies disrupt thematic cohesion. Ultimately, the story’s structural flaws limit its overall impact.

  • Sensory Experience 75

    When it comes to sensory experience, the film excels in atmosphere and sound design. A sparse, naturalistic score and moody ambient textures heighten tension, while crisp location sound anchors the rural setting. Visual style features muted hues and deliberate framing to reinforce mood. Collectively, these elements establish a cohesive sensory identity that elevates the film’s thriller elements.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    Regarding rewatch potential, The Silencing offers modest replay value anchored by its atmospheric style and central performance. The evocative setting and intermittent suspense may reward a second viewing for fans of moody thrillers. However, predictable narrative turns and unresolved character arcs reduce long-term appeal. Consequently, the film’s rewatch factor is moderate but limited by its structural shortcomings.

Plot

The Silencing Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in The Silencing from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

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.”

Full summary

The whole story of The Silencing, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

The Silencing Box Office

The Silencing grossed $170,653 worldwide. $100,746 came from the US and Canada and $69,907 (41%) from the rest of the world.

2020 box office

Worldwide gross

$170.7K

US & Canada
$100.7K
International
$69.9K
US & Canada 59% Rest of the world 41%
Videos

The Silencing Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 2 trailers.

THE SILENCING Official Trailer (2020) Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Thriller Movie HD
  • Trailer The Silencing Trailer #1 (2020)
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Silencing?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who is the main character trying to protect a sanctuary?

Details

The Silencing Also Known As

27 alternative titles, including “Мовчання” and “Безшумний”.

Also known as
  • Мовчання
  • Безшумний
  • Бесшумный
  • Cazador de Silencio
  • The Silencing - Tod in den Wäldern
  • Tod in den Wäldern
  • Sessiz Av
  • Договор молчания
  • 沉默
  • Néma csend
  • Η Νεκρική Σιγή
  • 사일런싱
+15 more
  • Caça Mortal
  • ההשתקה
  • O Silencioso
  • 沉歿殺機, დუმილი
  • Milczenie
  • The Silencing: Senza voce
  • Smrtící ticho
  • Nutildymas
  • サイレンシング
  • Amuțire
  • Ušutkavanje
  • खामोश
  • Smrtiace ticho
  • Sinh Tồn Trong Thinh Lặng
  • Затишие

Seen The Silencing?

FAQ

The Silencing FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Silencing, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Silencing?

The Silencing runs 1 hour 33 minutes (93 minutes).

When was The Silencing released?

The Silencing was released on August 14, 2020.

Who directed The Silencing?

The Silencing was directed by Robin Pront.

More films by Robin Pront

Who is in the cast of The Silencing?

The Silencing stars Annabelle Wallis as Alice Gustafson, Zahn McClarnon as Blackhawk and Charlotte Lindsay Marron as Molly, among 11 credited actors.

How much did The Silencing make at the box office?

The Silencing grossed $170,653 worldwide ($100,746 domestic, $69,907 international).

How is The Silencing rated?

The Silencing has 6.3/10 on IMDb, 24% on Rotten Tomatoes, 64% on TMDB and 2.8/5 on Letterboxd.

Does The Silencing have a post-credit scene?

No. The Silencing has no extra scene during or after the credits.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app