Dead Silence (2007)
Horror, Mystery, Thriller |
Dead Silence is a American supernatural horror film directed by James Wan and written by Leigh Whannell. The film stars Ryan Kwanten, Judith Roberts, Donnie Wahlberg, and Amber Valletta. Upon release, it was a box office bomb, grossing only $22 million against a $20 million budget.
Jamie Ashen and his wife, Lisa, receive an anonymous gift of a ventriloquist doll called “Billy”. As Lisa is playing with Billy while Jamie goes to pick their carry-out dinner order, a figure approaches her, causing her to scream. Later, Jamie returns home and finds Lisa dead with her tongue cut out. After Jamie is released from custody by Detective Jim Lipton due to lack of evidence, he spots inside Billy’s box a mysterious message about “Mary Shaw”, a deceased ventriloquist from his hometown, Raven’s Fair.
Returning to Raven’s Fair, Jamie visits his estranged and wealthy father, Edward, who uses a wheelchair, and his much-younger wife, Ella, for information regarding Mary Shaw. Dismissing them as superstitions, Jamie arranges for Lisa’s funeral with the help of a local mortician named Henry Walker. Henry’s senile wife, Marion, warns Jamie that Mary Shaw’s spirit is dangerous and vehemently urges him to bury Billy. Jamie does so, but shortly afterward is confronted by Detective Lipton in his motel room, the latter still doubting Jamie, after returning from the cemetery where Mary Shaw and the rest of her dummies are buried.
Director: James Wan
Writers: Leigh Whannell (screenplay & story), James Wan (story),
Stars: Ryan Kwanten, Amber Valletta, Donnie Wahlberg, Michael Fairman, Joan Heney, Bob Gunton
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) |
| Austin Majors | … | Michael Ashen (voice) (uncredited) |
| Julian Richings | … | Bos (uncredited) |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia