The most intense thriller I’ve ever seen is finally streaming again – and has a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The first time I saw Hush was at a slumber party, and being a very young teenager at the time, I was expecting just another scary thriller to entertain me and my friends. But as the evening went on, we were completely engrossed in the film and didn’t say a word to each other (or even pick up our phones, as you’d expect a teenager to do). By the end, I knew this was the most intense thriller I’d ever seen.
But over a year ago, in April 2023, Hush disappeared from Netflix when its distribution license expired and remained unavailable for quite some time. Now it is finally available again on video-on-demand (VOD) platforms like Amazon.
If you’re curious and want to know more about this incredible thriller, here’s why you shouldn’t miss the chance to stream it…
What is “Hush” about?
“Hush” is a horror thriller about Maddie Young (Kate Siegel), a deaf-mute writer who lives isolated in the woods. One night, she becomes the target of a masked killer who discovers her condition and decides to torture her, believing her to be an easy target.
The film revolves around a tense game of cat and mouse between Maddie and the intruder. Despite her disability, Maddie uses her intelligence and resourcefulness to outsmart the killer, leading to a thrilling battle for survival. The film is notable for its minimal dialogue and effective use of visual storytelling and sound design, creating an intense atmosphere that will keep you hooked.
“Hush” is an exciting but incredibly clever thriller
Hush grabbed me from the start because it’s not your typical horror thriller. It’s incredibly clever at building tension without relying on dialogue or jump scares. Instead, it uses silence and isolation to its advantage, giving every sound, or lack thereof, incredible meaning.
The main character, Maddie, is deaf and mute, which turns the usual horror dynamics on their head. I was completely immersed in her experience – imagining what it would be like not to hear the attacker lurking outside the door (and even walking around the house unnoticed). The film made you hypersensitive to your surroundings, focusing on the smallest details, like a creaking floorboard or movement in the shadows.
What makes Hush so clever is how Maddie’s disability, which the killer initially sees as a weakness, turns into her greatest strength. The way she uses her intelligence and resourcefulness to fight back kept me rooting for her the whole time. Without resorting to brute force, she decides to outsmart her attacker, which makes the thriller not only suspenseful but also incredibly entertaining.
Hush received a lot of praise when it was first released on Netflix. It has a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Chris Evangelista of CutPrintFilm said, “Hush is fast and agile, and the script by (Mike) Flanagan and (Kate) Siegel always manages to be clever enough to be effective. Hush doesn’t break any new ground, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a hell of a lot of fun.”
Meanwhile, Dustin Putman of The Fright File said, “The film is so thrilling and gripping that it will make every viewer flinch, wince and cheer. Hush should join the best works of Hitchcock, Carpenter and De Palma as a teaching tool in future genre film courses. That’s how it’s done.”
You must stream “Hush” now
I highly recommend Hush as it is a masterpiece of suspense that transforms the familiar horror thriller genre into something refreshingly clever and exciting. With its clever use of silence and a protagonist who defies all odds, this film will keep you hooked from start to finish. I will definitely be rewatching this unforgettable thriller now that it is finally available after a year.
Nothing for you? Check out the best thriller shows on Netflix or watch this intense Sci-fi thriller that recently landed on Prime Video.
Buy or rent “Hush” on Amazon Now.
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