By Shaye Bradley, More Horror -
Dead Silence (2007), the supernatural horror film directed by James Wan and written by Leigh Whannell, tells the story of the local legend of Mary Shaw, a murdered ventriloquist who haunts the town of Ravens Fair. The film opens with a young married couple, Jamie Ashen (Ryan Kwanten) and his wife Lisa (Laura Regan), receiving an anonymous gift of a ventriloquist doll called "Billy" on their doorstep. When Lisa is left alone and attacked by the creepy doll, her tongue is ripped out of her mouth. Jamie is arrested as the prime suspect, but is later released due to lack of evidence. He returns to his hometown of Ravens Fair to bury his wife and unravel the mystery of her murder, discovering the connection between Mary Shaw and the ventriloquist doll.
The film boasts a stylish and eerie atmosphere that has aged well since its release. The visual effects, while occasionally underwhelming, are largely impressive. Judith Roberts' performance as Mary Shaw is terrifying, with her flaking skin make-up effects and Gothic Victorian dress adding to the overall horror. Donnie Wahlberg appears as Detective Lipton, a character whose defining trait is his constant use of an electric razor. While Kwanten's performance as Jamie is adequate, it lacks depth and emotional resonance.
The movie includes fun set-pieces, including Mary Shaw's dilapidated Guignol Theater located in the middle of a small lake. The twists and turns throughout the film keep the audience engaged, leading up to an exciting finale.
The 2-disc Collector's Edition 4K UHD + Blu-ray release from Scream Factory offers an excellent viewing experience with lush grain fields and sharp detail. The color balance is fantastic, with Dolby Vision HDR10 allowing for the primaries to shine, especially the reds. The Blu-ray version is also sharp and pleasing to watch.
Overall, Dead Silence is a solid horror film that is worth revisiting. With Wan and Whannell at the helm, it delivers scares and atmosphere that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
Special Features:
Disc 1: 4K UHD (Theatrical Cut)
- NEW! 2023 4K Master In Dolby Vision (HDR 10 compatible)
Disc 2: Blu-Ray (Theatrical and Unrated Cuts of the film)
- NEW! 2023 4K Master (Theatrical Cut)
- NEW! Masters of Puppets – an interview with director James Wan (16 min)
- NEW! Dead Assignment – an interview with writer Leigh Whannell (12 min)
- NEW! No Children, Only Dolls – an interview with ventriloquist dummy creator Tim Selberg (12 min)
- Unrated Cut of the Film
- Alternate Opening (2 min)
- Alternate Ending (4 min)
- Deleted Scenes (4 min)
- The Making of Dead Silence featurette (12 min)
- Mary Shaw’s Secrets featurette (7 min)
- Evolution of a Visual Effect featurette (3 min)
- Theatrical Trailer (2 min)