Dead Silence (2007)

A widower returns to his hometown to search for answers to his wife's murder, which may be linked to the ghost of a murdered ventriloquist.

Director:

James Wan

Writers:

Leigh Whannell (screenplay), James Wan (story),

Stars:

Ryan Kwanten, Amber Valletta, Donnie Wahlberg

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ryan Kwanten	...	Jamie Ashen
Amber Valletta	...	Ella Ashen
Donnie Wahlberg	...	Det. Lipton
Michael Fairman	...	Henry Walker
Joan Heney	...	Marion Walker
Bob Gunton	...	Edward Ashen
Laura Regan	...	Lisa Ashen
Dmitry Chepovetsky	...	Richard Walker
Judith Roberts	...	Mary Shaw
Keir Gilchrist	...	Young Henry
Steven Taylor	...	Michael Ashen
David Talbot	...	Priest
Steve Adams	...	1941 Detective
Shelley Peterson	...	Lisa's Mom
Enn Reitel	...	Billy (voice)

Storyline

Every town has its own ghost story, and a local folktale around Ravens Fair is about a ventriloquist named Mary Shaw. After she went mad in the 1940s, she was accused of kidnapping a young boy who yelled out in one of her performances that she was a fraud. Because of this she was hunted down by townspeople who in the ultimate act of revenge, cut out her tongue and then killed her. They buried her along with her "children," a handmade collection of vaudeville dolls, and assumed they had silenced her forever. However, Ravens Fair has been plagued by mysterious deaths around them after Mary Shaws collection has returned from their graves and have come to seek revenge on people that killed her and their families. Far from the pall of their cursed hometown, newlyweds Jamie and Lisa Ashen thought they had established a fresh start, until Jamie's wife is grotesquely killed in their apartment. Jamie returns to Ravens Fair for the funeral, intent on unraveling the mystery of Lisa's death. Once...

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Plot Keywords:

ventriloquist | ghost | package | ghost story | doll | 

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Taglines:

You scream. You die.

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

14A

Details

Official Sites:

MySpace Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 March 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Silence de mort

Filming Locations:

Elora, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$7,842,725 (USA) (16 March 2007)

Gross:

$16,545,445 (USA) (13 April 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Twisted Pictures, Evolution Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min 92 min (unrated)

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was made into a haunted house at Universal's "Halloween Horror Nights" in 2007 in Florida.

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Goofs

When killing Harry, Billy has the voice of Marion even though Mary Shaw never takes her tongue.

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Quotes

[last lines]
Ella Ashen: Now
[brief pause]
Ella Ashen: who's the dummy?

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Crazy Credits

The closing credits starts with a dedication to producer Gregg Hoffman.

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Connections

Referenced in The Forbidden Kingdom (2008)

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Soundtracks

Who's Holding You Now?
Written by Johnette Napolitano, Danny Lohner
Performed by Johnette Napolitano
Courtesy of Evolution Music Partners

User Reviews

scary as hell!

Director Wan's follow-up to his smash-hit SAW (2004) is a crackerjack horror film about a ventriloquist's dummy, which seems to bring death to those around it. Kwanten, whose wife died mysteriously, returns to his hometown to investigate mysterious ventriloquist, who may be behind it all. Beware the Stare! Not entirely logical but atmospheric, stylish, well-directed and scary as hell! So suspenseful it creates a heightened sense of awareness in you. Superb subliminal score is reminiscent of SUSPIRIA (1977), and film's finale is a nod to INFERNO (1980). A treat for horror fans. Like SAW (2004), this was written by James Whannell, from a story by himself and director Wan. (from www.cultmovies.info)