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 deceased 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:

young couple | nursery rhyme | creepy doll | vengeful ghost | abandoned theater | 

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Taglines:

You scream. You die.

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for horror violence and images

Did You Know?

Trivia

SPOILER. A possible hint from the very beginning. During the opening credits we see the building of a puppet, including the project notes. Amber Velleta's name appear at the same time that "Perfect design" is written in notebook.

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Goofs

When Detective Lipton interrogates Jamie on the death of Lisa, actor Ryan Kwanten accidentally flubs his line and says her name as Liser.

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Quotes

Det. Jim Lipton: [walks up to Jamie] Can you help me with a missing persons case? I'm looking for a male.
[points to Jamies Head]
Det. Jim Lipton: Bout this tall. Sometimes seen with a hand up his ass.

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Crazy Credits

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

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Alternate Versions

Unrated DVD contains the following extended shots which were omitted from the "R" rated version.

• Mary Shaw has a creepy, disgusting, long tongue.
• A gorier death for Henry, as Mary Shaw is shown eating Henry's tongue and saying "I now have your voice, Henry."
• The tongue comes out and licks Jamie after the clown admits the "secret" to him about his wife.

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Connections

Referenced in The Cinema Snob: Song of the South (2017)

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Soundtracks

Let It Go
Written by Bob Mair, Dino Soldo
Performed by Bob Mair, Dino Soldo
Courtesy of Black Toast Music

User Reviews

Still holds up well in 2019!

After watching the first few Saw movies, I kept thinking to myself that doll was creepy enough to have a horror movie based on itself and a few years later I found this gem and I have been revisiting it over the years since. Its 2019, and I just rewatched it again a few nights back with a friend and it was an entertaining ride.

The movie itself isn't any kind of a masterpiece. The acting, writing and plot are all rather average but there is some effective horror atmosphere and effects packed in and while the plot is nothing original or fresh its played straight in way that will keep you interested. Its a breezy movie that you can watch and enjoy with a roommate late night.

Details

Official Sites:

MySpace Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 March 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Shhhh...

Filming Locations:

Ka Ka Lucky Restaurant, Toronto, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,842,725, 18 March 2007

Gross USA:

$16,809,076

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$22,382,047

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:

2.39 : 1