Review: John Woo’s SILENT NIGHT delivers wordless, action-packed thrills and hilarious awkwardness

John Woo’s first American action film, Silent nighttakes the audience on a bloody journey of revenge, telling the tormented story of a father (Joel Kinnaman) who witnesses the tragic death of his son in a gang gunfight on Christmas Eve. The film features Woo’s signature style and visceral storytelling, but introduces an experimental twist: none of the characters speak, leaving the audience to rely solely on visual storytelling.

The action inside Silent night is exceptionally handsome and Joel Kinnaman gives a badass performance in his role as the vengeful father. However, the decision to eliminate all dialogue, while ambitious, ends up being a double-edged sword for the film.

The absence of spoken words in a film can be a bold choice, and in this case, it led to an unintentional comedic experience. Over the course of the film, the characters find themselves in intensely emotional situations, such as a husband and wife going through grief and pain and eventually separating. While the intention is to evoke sadness, the lack of verbal communication results in a rather humorous viewing experience. I found myself chuckling at the irony that a simple conversation could have potentially prevented the characters’ turmoil. Instead, they resort to intense stares as if reading each other’s minds, creating unintentional humor in what should be serious moments.

Kinnaman’s performance is commendable, especially considering the challenge of conveying emotion without the aid of dialogue. Her physicality and her facial expressions become crucial tools in portraying the depth of her character’s pain and determination. There was still a void in the film left by the absence of spoken words and it made for some funny and awkward situations.

John Woo has a reputation as a visual storyteller and Silent night it certainly showcases his ability to create thrilling action sequences. The film is heavily loaded with Woo’s signature style, offering a thrilling experience that action fans will undoubtedly appreciate. While the experimental nature of the film is intriguing, the device of having no dialogue detracts from the emotional weight the story could have had.

Silent night represents an interesting storytelling experiment, fusing Woo’s action experience with a unique cinematic experience. While it may not have completely worked for me, fans of Woo’s style may find it a worthwhile endeavor.