Dead Silence

I think Dead Silence is a better story, then the book ( A maiden's Grave ) on which it was based. This is rare indeed, for usually a story looses depth, when it is turned into a movie. In this case, the plot is more compact, with less unnecessary details, which contributes to the tension.

I'm a big fan of Jeffrey Deaver but I'm not aware of this story but I will look for it. Great suspense and cool twists in this story. John Potter, Jim Rockford, aka James Garner was superb. Just like his roles in The Rockford Files.

If you are a fan of James Garner and/or fan of books by Jeffrey Deaver, this is a must. Tomorrow I need to go to our local used bookstore and get this one.

It was difficult to not spill any spoilers.

"Dead Silence" has a real grabber of an opening, and rarely lets up thereafter. The hostage drama plays out in a somewhat logical manner, until the end, where credibility gets stretched to the max. It is interesting to see the way James Garner manipulates the situation to his advantage, only to have the whole thing unraveled by what appears to be nothing more than a tacked on ending. Nevertheless the film delivers a lot of tense moments, and is entertaining, despite the rush to a rather unbelievable conclusion. The movie is well acted, and the on location photography is acceptable. I recommend seeking this one out. - MERK

If you're a fan of Jeffery Deaver novels then you will have read 'A Maiden's Grave'.

And you will not be dissappointed by this screen interpretation of the novel.

It sticks closely to the plot.

The screenplay is crisp and clear and the characters well portrayed.

A group of deaf students and their teacher have their bus highjacked by three escaped criminals and they are then held hostage in an old slaughterhouse.

The duel between the seasoned hostage negotiator (played by James Garner) and the hostage takers is superbly crafted.

There is an added twist at the end.

If you've read the book you will love every minute, if you haven't then you will still enjoy an excellent thriller.

Well done.

Pretty good Matlock'ish movie. James Garner is a missed gem. Awesome to also see Scott Speedman in a very early role prior to Underworld. Nice twist at the end!