Dead Silence (2007)

Director:

James Wan

Writers:

Leigh Whannell (screenplay)
James Wan (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

16 March 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

You scream. You die.

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Ventriloquist | Ghost | Death | Detective | Doll

Cast

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)
Fred Tatasciore	...	Clown (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Austin Majors	...	Michael Ashen (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
James Wan

Writing credits
Leigh Whannell		(screenplay)
James Wan		(story) &
Leigh Whannell		(story)

Produced by
Mark Burg	....	producer
Gregg Hoffman	....	producer
Oren Koules	....	producer
Peter Oillataguerre	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Charlie Clouser

Cinematography by
John R. Leonetti		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Michael N. Knue

Casting by
Barbara Fiorentino
Linda Lamontagne
Rebecca Mangieri
Wendy Weidman

Production Design by
Julie Berghoff

Art Direction by
Anastasia Masaro

Set Decoration by
Christina Kuhnigk

Costume Design by
Denise Cronenberg

Makeup Department
Lance Anderson	....	sculptor lab work
David R. Beecroft	....	key hair stylist
François Dagenais	....	prosthetics designer (as Francois Dagenais)
Paulina Harcus	....	hair stylist
Fina Khan	....	second hair assistant (as Fina Kahn)
Jo-Ann MacNeil	....	makeup artist
Leslie Ann Sebert	....	key makeup artist (as Leslie A. Sebert)
Patrick Baxter	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)
Glen P. Griffin	....	special makeup effects & sculpting (uncredited)
Nicole Michaud	....	dummy fabricator: AFX Studio (uncredited)
Nicole Michaud	....	project coordinator: AFX Studio (uncredited)
Mariko Sakata	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)
Toby Sells	....	special makeup effects artist: Lab Work (uncredited)
Dave Snyder	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Dennis Chapman	....	production manager
Frank Cuomo	....	post-production supervisor
Virginia Landis Albertson	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael T. Burgess	....	daily assistant director
Sarah Campbell	....	second assistant director
Chi Fung	....	assistant director: reshoots
Chi Fung	....	first assistant director
Joel Hay	....	second second assistant director
Nick Lopez	....	trainee assistant director
Andrew Shea	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Tamara Andrews	....	scenic painter
Gordon Brown	....	head painter
Greg Chown	....	storyboard artist
Avril Dishaw	....	buyer
David Joseph Doblinger	....	assistant set decorator
Britt Doughty	....	trainee assistant art director
Donavon Drummond	....	on-set dresser (as Donovan Drummond)
Jeff Helgason	....	key scenic painter
David Joseph	....	assistant set decorator
Arlene Lott	....	first assistant art director
Kenny Meinzinger	....	property master
Dan Norton	....	set designer
Arlene Savan	....	set dresser
John Subotich	....	leadman
Michael Tawton	....	leadman
Richelle Wilks	....	second assistant art director
Matt Wladyka	....	set dresser
Toni Wong	....	assistant property master

Sound Department
Randy Babajtis	....	sound designer
Jeremy Balko	....	adr mixer
Robert Batha	....	assistant sound editor
Jeanette Browning	....	adr recordist
Al Buchok	....	boom operator
Roman Alexander Buchok	....	cable puller
Kelly Cabral	....	supervising sound editor
Paul Timothy Carden	....	dialogue editor
Robert Carr	....	sound mix technician
Melissa A. Corns	....	sound effects editor
Mark DeSimone	....	adr mixer: New York
Brian Dunlop	....	adr recordist
Mike Filippov	....	cable puller
Mike Filippov	....	second boom operator
Brent Findley	....	assistant sound editor
Douglas Ganton	....	sound mixer
Scott G.G. Haller	....	dialogue editor
Brian Hanish	....	boom operator
Spencer Johnson	....	sound editor
Doc Kane	....	adr mixer
Cody King	....	sound editor
Richard Kitting	....	foley editor
Ken Kobett	....	sound re-recording mixer
Shawn London	....	sound editor
Andrew Morgado	....	foley mixer
Mike Olman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Sarah Payan	....	dialogue editor
Vic Radulich	....	dialogue editor
Shelley Roden	....	foley artist
Alexander Shapcott	....	daily sound assistant
Edward M. Steidele	....	foley artist
Lauren Stephens	....	sound designer
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer
Chris Trent	....	foley mixer
Jerry Trent	....	foley artist
David F. Van Slyke	....	sound effects editor

Special Effects by
Warren Appleby	....	special effects coordinator
Tim Barraball	....	special effects key: physical effects
Jason Board	....	special effects shop foreman
David A. Brooke	....	special effects crew
Andrew Clarke-Meneguzzi	....	special effects technician
Subha Dasgupta	....	special effects assistant
Michael Innanen	....	special effects technician
David Reaume	....	special effects technician
Jason Detheridge	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Michael Becki	....	digital compositor
Barb Benoit	....	digital compositor
Dennis Berardi	....	visual effects producer: Mr. X Inc.
Kristy Blackwell	....	compositor
Dan Carnegie	....	animator: Mr. X Inc.
Erik Charlebois	....	visual effects artist: Mr. X
Cyril Frederick Chu	....	matte painter/compositor
Shawney Cohen	....	CG supervisor (as Sean Cohen)
John Daro	....	digital intermediate editor
Rob Del Ciancio	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Bonnie Dickson	....	digital compositor
Robert Greb	....	digital compositor
Annu Gulati	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Benjamin Min Huang	....	lighting artist (as Benny Min Huang)
Benjamin Min Huang	....	texture painter (as Benny Min Huang)
Ian MacLeod	....	digital artist
Elliot Mallon	....	digital effects artist
Sarah McMurdo	....	visual effects production manager: Mr. X Inc.
John J. Miralles	....	digital compositor
Martin Mueller	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc.
John Norris	....	business affairs: The Aaron Sims Company
Matt Ralph	....	digital artist
Darcy Reno	....	senior systems administrator (as Darcy Bangsund)
Avi Salem	....	rotoscope artist
Geoff D.E. Scott	....	visual effects
Aaron Sims	....	concept artist
Michael Stewart	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Hoa Tran	....	digital effects artist: Mr. X Inc.
Jean-Philippe Traoré	....	Flame artist
Aaron Weintraub	....	visual effects supervisor: Mr. X Inc.
Brianne Wells	....	visual effects coordinator: Mr. X Inc.
Fiona Campbell Westgate	....	visual effects producer: Mr. X Inc.
Kyle Yoneda	....	effects animator

Stunts
Leigh Bianco	....	stunts
Brad Bunn	....	stunt rigger
Scott Alan Cook	....	stunt double (as Scotty Cook)
Shelley Cook	....	stunt coordinator
Blair Johannes	....	stunt performer
Liise Keeling	....	stunt double
Joanne Leach	....	stunts (as Jo Anne Leach)
Patrick Mark	....	stunts
Layton Morrison	....	stunt rigger
Ron Muise	....	key stunt rigger
Billy Oliver	....	stunt double
Edward A. Queffelec	....	stunt performer
Robert C. Shannon	....	safety diver: second unit
Robert C. Shannon	....	water safety supervisor
John Stoneham Jr.	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Miranda Jade	....	stunt double (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Neil Andrews	....	key aerial rigger (as Mongo Andrews)
Carlo Bellini	....	camera loader
Dave Bouskill	....	rigging gaffer: re-shoots
Rocky Brown	....	rigging electrician
Michael Carella	....	additional photographer
Michael Carella	....	camera operator: "c" camera
Yvonne Collin	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Tim Davis	....	video operator
Federico De Marco	....	second assistant camera
Cylvan Desrouleaux	....	second assistant camera: "c" camera
Neil Fraser	....	grip
Howard Galbraith	....	best boy (as Howie Galbraith)
Michael Galbraith	....	gaffer
Ben Gervais	....	video operator
Michael Gibson	....	still photographer
Philip A. Giglio	....	electrician
Brian E. Hill	....	grip
Mark Hryma	....	aerial director of photography
Mark Hryma	....	camera operator: Wescam camera
Andy Jekabsons	....	first assistant: "c" camera
Jason Klein	....	grip
Jim Krauter	....	rigging best boy
Derek Lang	....	video assist operator
Jim MacCammon	....	lighting technician
Rod MacNeil Jr.	....	electrician
Beth Nobes	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Doug Novis	....	rigging best boy (as Douglas Novis)
Mike Ohorodnyk	....	best boy grip
Jeff Petro	....	assistant camera: Wescam camera
Michael Plant	....	generator operator
Herb Reischl Jr.	....	rigging electric
Herb Reischl Sr.	....	electrician
Herb Reischl Sr.	....	rigging electrician
Ron Renzetti	....	dolly grip
Brent Robinson	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera, re-shoots
Brent Robinson	....	underwater first assistant camera
Robert C. Shannon	....	dive supervisor
Robert C. Shannon	....	underwater camera: underwater unit
Robert C. Shannon	....	water safety: "b" camera unit
Dave C. Sheridan	....	camera operator: "b" camera (as Dave Sheridan)
Tom Starnes	....	rigging gaffer
Robert Stecko	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Dean Stinchcombe	....	first assistant camera
Samuel Turturici	....	grip (as Sam Turturici)
Ron Yolevsky	....	key grip
Matt Kiskis	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Lisa Baylin	....	casting assistant
Robin D. Cook	....	casting: Toronto
Kristi Daniels	....	casting intern
Elizabeth Dean	....	casting manager (as Elizabeth Dionne)
Samantha Finkler	....	casting associate
Amber Horn	....	casting assistant
Cheryl Kloner	....	additional voice casting
Linda Lamontagne	....	additional voice casting
Jane Rogers	....	extras casting
Lindsey Weissmueller	....	casting intern (as Lindsey Samilian)
Jeffrey Gafner	....	casting associate: new york (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Patricia Boulden	....	assistant costume designer
Christopher Hargadon	....	costume breakdown supervisor
Kim Porter	....	costume truck supervisor

Editorial Department
Mel Friedman	....	first assistant editor
Christian Kinnard	....	editor: title sequence
Alexandra Leviloff	....	assistant editor: avid
Aaron Marshall	....	first assistant editor
Rui Martins	....	telecine operator
John Nicolard	....	digital intermediate supervisor
Mila Patriki	....	dailies colorist
Charles Ryan	....	assistant editor
Bill Schultz	....	digital intermediate executive
Walter Volpatto	....	digital intermediate colorist

Music Department
Mark Bensi	....	music editor
Lise Richardson	....	preview music editor

Transportation Department
Whitney Byron	....	transportation captain
Gordon Ionson	....	transportation captain
Orest W. Muz	....	transportation coordinator
Ian C. Harris	....	daily driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Kevin Alakas	....	second assistant accountant
Gerry Alfonso	....	first assistant accountant
Allison Barber	....	assistant unit publicist
Troy Begnaud	....	assistant: Mr. Hoffman
David Booth	....	laser film recording
Cathy Cavadini	....	looping group (as Catherine Cavadini)
Adam Chuckryk	....	stand-in
Donald Colafranceschi	....	production assistant: re-shoot
Chad Cole	....	assistant: Mr. Burg & Mr. Koules
Patricia Cowmeadow	....	on-set supervisor
John DeMita	....	adr loop group
Judi M. Durand	....	adr loop group (as Judy Durand)
Jeff Fischer	....	adr loop group (as Jeffrey Todd Fischer)
Peggy Flood	....	adr loop group
Neil Floyd	....	production assistant
Peter Freeman	....	programmer
Anneliese Goldman	....	adr loop group
Charmaine Hamp	....	stand-in
Barbara Harris	....	adr loop group (as Barbara Iley)
Lauren Hassard	....	set medic
Zoe Raye Hegedus	....	adr loop group
Dawn Howat	....	second assistant accountant
Bruce A. Hutchison	....	re-shoots coordinator
Kyle Kitagawa	....	production secretary
Nick Kontsalakis	....	first assistant accountant
Daamen J. Krall	....	adr loop group
Candace Kunderman	....	trainee accountant
Nick Lopez	....	set production assistant
Jim Lovisek	....	animal wrangler
Taylor Masamitsu	....	adr loop group
Darin McLeod	....	assistant location manager
Nancy Melo	....	assistant: Mr. Wan
Luis M. Mendoza	....	assistant location manager (as Luis Mendoza)
Pete Michaels	....	ventriloquism instructor: Ms Roberts
Kati Moore	....	location production assistant
Gabrielle Nadeau	....	production assistant
Pete Nilson	....	caterer: second unit
Carol Pears	....	script supervisor
Synderella Peng	....	title designer
Monica Perez Gelbman	....	post-production accountant
Steena Petersen	....	key craft service: reshoots
Lori Pumputis	....	production coordinator
David Randolph	....	adr loop group
Kathryn Remlinger	....	assistant: Mr. Wan
Ryan Robertson	....	main title producer
Susan Silo	....	adr loop group
Teri Spasov	....	production accountant: reshoot
Michael Stoyanov	....	assistant production coordinator
Alan Sutton	....	fire safety coordinator
Elaine Thurston	....	production accountant
Dave Tommasini	....	pilot: Wescam helicopter
Michael Tough	....	location manager
Karen Tyrell	....	unit publicist
Lisa Vella	....	assistant to producers
Al Vrkljan	....	armorer
Larry David Wilson	....	production assistant
Garson Yu	....	title designer

Thanks
Gregg Hoffman	....	in memory of

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures
• Twisted Pictures (uncredited)
• Evolution Entertainment (uncredited)

Distributors

• Toho-Towa (2008) (Japan) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2007) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (2007) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (2007) (UK) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2007) (Argentina) (DVD)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2007) (Argentina) (all media)
• Universal Home Video (2008) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD) (unrated)

Special Effects

• AFX Studios (special make-up effects)
• Mr. X (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• FotoKem Digital Film Services  digital intermediate
• Hand Prop  props supplied by
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack
• Movie Armaments Group  firearms supplied by
• Pivotal Post  Avid editing equipment provided by
• Sonic Magic  sound post-production
• Sound Satisfaction  foley recording facilities
• Toronto Film Studios  movie studio
• Wilshire Stages, The  ADR recording facility
• yU+Co.  titles

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for horror violence and images

Runtime:

89 min | 92 min (unrated version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | USA:R (certificate #42784) | Singapore:PG | UK:15 | Malaysia:U | Finland:K-15 | Argentina:13 | South Korea:18 | Australia:M (unrated version) | Australia:M | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Netherlands:12 | Italy:T

Filming Locations:

Elora, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

During the climax, in the storage area with all 101 dolls, you can see Jigsaw's doll from the "Saw" films sitting on the floor, and Edgar Bergen's doll Charlie McCarthy on one of the shelves. The doll that Detective Lipton throws over his shoulder in this scene is a replica of ventriloquist Jimmy Nelson's doll, Danny O'Day.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Lisa is attacked by the Doll and is spitting blood out on the floor, the white sheet on her back keeps moving from being wrapped down around her waist, to pulled back up almost to her shoulders between shots.

Quotes:

Henry Walker:If you go looking for answers, you just might find them.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Ted (2012)

Soundtrack:

Who's Holding You Now?

Dead Scary

James Wan & Leigh Whannell are masterminds in this gender especially when it comes to the twist in the end. I liked the Saw films because of the twist in the end. Saw had more gore less thrill but Dead Silence was the opposite it had more thrill less gore which was more of my type of film. The movie was emotionally & psychologically thrilling and was made so dark & sinister that really did suit the mood for the film. It's been a long time since I saw a movie this scary e.g. Jaws & IT. I don't think there ever has been a horror film about dummies but there was a Goosebumps episode called "Night of the Living Dummy" which was rather funny than scary so this film was quite different. I can't explain how horrifying it was, definitely the kind of movie that made my heart beat faster and hold the arms of the chair tight throughout the whole film. I prefer eerie & frighting scenes in a horror movie rather than violence & gore because the main aim of horror genre is to scare. The ending was the icing on the cake and when I left the cinema hall I was saying to myself "Wow! What an awesome movie" It had one of the best twist I ever seen in film history. Overall in my opinion Dead Silence is one of the best horror films ever and I liked it better then Saw. I also noticed the Jigsaw puppet in the scene where there was a room full of puppets and a clown puppet on a chair. It was on the ground in front of the support beam.