Dead Silence (2007)

A young 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

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for horror violence and images

Details

Official Sites:

MySpace Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 March 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dead Silence - Ein Wort und du bist tot

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

During scene in motel room, Jamie's wedding band switches hands and disappears several times.

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Quotes

[last lines]
Jamie Ashen: [reciting the nursery rhyme] Beware the stare of Mary Shaw / She had no children, only dolls / And if you see her in your dreams / Be sure to never ever scream.

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Crazy Credits

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

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Connections

Featured in Oh, We Review!: Dead Silence (2012)

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Soundtracks

Lucky in Love
Written by Alex Heffes
Courtesy of Evolution Music Partners

User Reviews

Not Too Bad

I had no interest in seeing this movie, but my buddy wanted to see it so we went to go and see it. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. I wasn't so much scared, but it was indeed very creepy. This movie almost reminds me of Pennsylvania legend "Bloody Mary". Donnie Walberg definitely plays the guy you love to hate, and of course the ending is good. So hey if you want a good thriller, then I say check it out. If you know you're seeing a girl that's VERY jumpy, then guys definitely take her so she can jump into your arms because this is a good type of movie for that. Not as much gore as I would have liked, but it was definitely fun to see. And of course check out the Jigsaw Puppet.

Yes this is short, yes it's sweet but hey isn't less more?