When words are not enough, 'Dead Silence'

By STEVE PERSALL
Published March 15, 2007

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Dead Silence (R) is another horror film based on the notion that ventriloquism dummies and the folks speaking for them are pretty creepy. If you scream, make sure nobody sees your lips moving.

The story is set in Ravens Fair, a small town with a nasty legacy. Years ago, a ventriloquist named Mary Shaw was accused of murdering a child. Vengeful citizens hunted her down like Frankenstein's monster, cut out her tongue - isn't that a good career move? - and buried Mary with her dummies.

They haven't stayed underground. Ravens Fair regularly discovers slain families with extracted tongues. The surviving husband (Ryan Kwanten) of one victim investigates the murders and discovers the bloody truth.

Dead Silence comes from director James Wan and screenwriter Leigh Whannell, who devised the Saw series of grisly delights. Universal Pictures didn't screen the film in advance for critical review.

Steve Persall, Times film critic