DEAD SILENCE

US, 2007, 90 minutes, Colour.
Ryan Kwanten, Amber Valletta, Donnie Wahlberg, Michael Fairman, Joan Heney, Bob Gunton, Laura Regan.
Directed by James Wan.

There has been a fairly long tradition of ‘devil dolls’ and murderous ventriloquist’s dolls. Here is a 2007 version.

Compared with the number of torture/horror films in recent times, like Captivity and Hostel 2, this is a very agreeable small scary show. Not too horrific at all (and not a swear word to hear and no confronting sex scenes).

It is the kind of fright film that gives some chills while it is there but not a great film at all. It looks good, some very eerie settings. However, the acting is only moderate, led by Australian actor Ryan Kwitain as the put upon hero and Donnie Wahlberg as a laconic, persistent detective. The dialogue is not too sharp either (and elicited some giggles from the audience). That said, it has an intriguing enough tale to tell (but most will guess something of the solution early enough).

The director, James Wan, and the writer, Leigh Whannell, both from Australia, were responsible for the much more gruesome Saw.

1.The work of James Wan and his writer, Lee Whannell (the Saw series)? This film as slighter – and more audience-friendly?

2.The title, the experience of the dead silence? Ominous?

3.The city settings, apartments, streets, takeaway – an ordinary opening? The contrast with the countryside, the mansion, the decaying theatre, the lake? The décor of the theatre, the houses? The musical score and atmosphere?

4.The opening, Jamie and Lisa, the happy marriage? The gift of the doll? The mystery? Fixing the sink, the takeaway dinner? Lisa and the confrontation with the doll, her death? Jamie and his return, hearing her voice, seeing her dead? The police, Detective Lipton and his interrogating Jamie? Scepticism? The evidence against Jamie?

5.Jamie and his decision to return home, to see his estranged father? His arrival, his meeting his father’s wife at the door, her welcome? His father sitting in the chair? Ominous? The arguments with his father? The nursery rhyme and the memories of Mary Shaw?

6.His investigations, going to the funeral director, the discussions about Mary Shaw, the memories of the past? The flashback, Mr Walker and his memories, as a boy, Mary Shaw’s performance, Michael Ashen and his scepticism, his disappearance? The vindictive attitude of Mary Shaw? The discussions with the dolls? Marian Walker and her sense of fear, ominous?

7.The father, Ella? Everything seeming normal? Jamie and his arguments with his father – and going back about the past, his hearing the story about Michael Ashen and his disappearance?

8.The arrival of Detective Lipton, his character, offhand? Questions? Jamie and his decision to go to the theatre? His previous visit, the boat? The message from Henry Walker? His arrival at the theatre, Lipton pursuing? The tour, the dangers, the heights of the scaffolding? Their discovery of the room with all the dolls? The dolls and their turning their heads? The appearance of Mary Shaw? Possessing the dolls? Eventually lighting the fire, the destruction of all the dolls? One missing? The death of Lipton?

9.Jamie, his return to the house, the discovery that his father was dead, his being manipulated by Ella? Ella and her vindictiveness? The spirit of Mary Shaw? Her destroying Jamie – and everybody becoming a puppet doll? The meaning of the word ‘ventriloquist’ as explained? The physicality of the dolls, the talk? The devil dolls and their evil?