Everything you need to know about DEAD SILENCE …and how it relates to you and the world around you. Includes info on the actors, director, with news, reviews,

Everything you need to Everything you need to know about know about

DEAD SILENCEDEAD SILENCE……and how it relates to you and how it relates to you and the world around you.and the world around you.

Includes info on the Includes info on the actors, director, with news, actors, director, with news, reviews, and photos.reviews, and photos.

Visual ReviewVisual ReviewVisual ReviewVisual Review

visual review bydavid bruce

visualhollywood.com

From the writer and director of the From the writer and director of the international phenomenon Saw comes international phenomenon Saw comes an experience on the razor’s edge of an experience on the razor’s edge of fear. Spinning a haunted tale of fear. Spinning a haunted tale of supposedly long-dead ancestors and supposedly long-dead ancestors and age-old grudges, director JAMES WAN age-old grudges, director JAMES WAN and writer LEIGH WHANNELL take their and writer LEIGH WHANNELL take their trademark knack for scaring the hell trademark knack for scaring the hell out of their fans and bring it to the out of their fans and bring it to the horrorhorror

SHORT SYNOPSIS

Movies Contain the Essence of Being Human

DONNIE WAHLBERG DONNIE WAHLBERG (Detective Lipton)(Detective Lipton)

KEY ACTORS

BOB GUNTON BOB GUNTON (Edward Ashen)(Edward Ashen)

JUDITH ROBERTSJUDITH ROBERTS(Mary Shaw)(Mary Shaw)

The Cinematic Arts Have the Power to Transform

JAMES WAN JAMES WAN (Director and Story)(Director and Story)

KEY TALENT

LEIGH WHANNELL LEIGH WHANNELL (Story and Screenplay)(Story and Screenplay)

JULIE BERGHOFF JULIE BERGHOFF (Production Designer)(Production Designer)

Our Artists Are Our Liberators

ARTIST HIGHLIGHT RYAN KWANTEN RYAN KWANTEN (Jamie Ashen)(Jamie Ashen)

He was most recently seen in the He was most recently seen in the 20th Century Fox film Flicka, 20th Century Fox film Flicka, opposite Tim McGraw and Alison opposite Tim McGraw and Alison Lohman. He recently completed Lohman. He recently completed production on the independent production on the independent film Don’t Fade Away, opposite film Don’t Fade Away, opposite Mischa Barton for director Luke Mischa Barton for director Luke Kasdan.Kasdan.

Kwanten resides in Marina Del Kwanten resides in Marina Del Rey, California, and spends his Rey, California, and spends his free time bike riding and surfing. free time bike riding and surfing. This multifaceted actor also This multifaceted actor also competes in triathlons, and he competes in triathlons, and he qualified for the world qualified for the world championships in Sweden last championships in Sweden last August.August.

Actors are Liberators in Masquerade

ARTIST HIGHLIGHT

AMBER VALLETTA (Ella Ashen)

Valletta was born in Phoenix, Valletta was born in Phoenix, Arizona. Shortly thereafter, her family Arizona. Shortly thereafter, her family moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma. She moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma. She attended Booker T. Washington High attended Booker T. Washington High School. She got her start in the School. She got her start in the fashion industry when her mother fashion industry when her mother enrolled her in modeling school at enrolled her in modeling school at the age of 15 at the Linda Layman the age of 15 at the Linda Layman Agency. She has since gone on to Agency. She has since gone on to act in several films, been on the act in several films, been on the cover of magazines and in cover of magazines and in advertisements for Louis Vuitton, advertisements for Louis Vuitton, Calvin Klein and Versace and hosted Calvin Klein and Versace and hosted MTV's House of Style with friend and MTV's House of Style with friend and fellow supermodel Shalom Harlow.fellow supermodel Shalom Harlow.

AMBER VALLETTA (Ella Ashen)

Valletta was born in Phoenix, Valletta was born in Phoenix, Arizona. Shortly thereafter, her family Arizona. Shortly thereafter, her family moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma. She moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma. She attended Booker T. Washington High attended Booker T. Washington High School. She got her start in the School. She got her start in the fashion industry when her mother fashion industry when her mother enrolled her in modeling school at enrolled her in modeling school at the age of 15 at the Linda Layman the age of 15 at the Linda Layman Agency. She has since gone on to Agency. She has since gone on to act in several films, been on the act in several films, been on the cover of magazines and in cover of magazines and in advertisements for Louis Vuitton, advertisements for Louis Vuitton, Calvin Klein and Versace and hosted Calvin Klein and Versace and hosted MTV's House of Style with friend and MTV's House of Style with friend and fellow supermodel Shalom Harlow.fellow supermodel Shalom Harlow.

Actors help us: laugh, be happy, cry, get angry, and even think

ARTIST HIGHLIGHT

JAMES WAN JAMES WAN ((Director/Story by)Director/Story by)

Saw was Wan’s first feature film Saw was Wan’s first feature film as a director. The film, starring as a director. The film, starring multi-awardwinning Danny Glover, multi-awardwinning Danny Glover, Cary Elwes and Monica Potter, Cary Elwes and Monica Potter, was invited to the prestigious was invited to the prestigious Sundance Film Festival in 2004, Sundance Film Festival in 2004, where it became a hit with where it became a hit with festivalgoer. Saw was picked up festivalgoer. Saw was picked up by Lionsgate prior to the festival by Lionsgate prior to the festival and was released in October 2004, and was released in October 2004, resulting in a gross domestic box resulting in a gross domestic box office of over $55 million and a office of over $55 million and a worldwide theatrical of over $100 worldwide theatrical of over $100 million.million.

Filmmakers are Revolutionaries

EXTENDED SYNOPSISEvery town has its own ghost Every town has its own ghost story—a local folktale that’s story—a local folktale that’s whispered around campfires or whispered around campfires or an incantation chanted by an incantation chanted by nervous kids at a sleepover.nervous kids at a sleepover.

In Ravens Fair, the story is about In Ravens Fair, the story is about Mary Shaw, a ventriloquist who Mary Shaw, a ventriloquist who went mad in the 1940s. Accused went mad in the 1940s. Accused of the kidnapping and murder of of the kidnapping and murder of a young boy who labeled her a a young boy who labeled her a fraud, she was hunted down by fraud, she was hunted down by angry townspeople who—in the angry townspeople who—in the ultimate act of revenge— cut out ultimate act of revenge— cut out her tongue and killed her. They her tongue and killed her. They buried her along with her buried her along with her “children,” a handmade “children,” a handmade collection of vaudeville dolls, and collection of vaudeville dolls, and assumed they had silenced her assumed they had silenced her forever.forever.

Stories are Transforming

EXTENDED SYNOPSIS

Since that time, Ravens Fair has Since that time, Ravens Fair has been plagued by mysterious been plagued by mysterious deaths. The ghastly dolls from deaths. The ghastly dolls from Mary Shaw’s collection have Mary Shaw’s collection have gone missing from the grave gone missing from the grave and reappeared over the and reappeared over the decades in the most unlikely of decades in the most unlikely of places. In the still of night—places. In the still of night—wherever her children are wherever her children are glimpsed—families are found glimpsed—families are found gruesomely murdered…with gruesomely murdered…with their tongues torn out at the their tongues torn out at the seam.seam.

All Kids are Born ArtisticWhat is Natural is Essential

EXTENDED SYNOPSIS

Far from the pall of their cursed Far from the pall of their cursed hometown, newlyweds Jamie hometown, newlyweds Jamie (RYAN KWANTEN, television’s (RYAN KWANTEN, television’s Summerland) and Lisa Ashen Summerland) and Lisa Ashen (LAURA REGAN, television’s (LAURA REGAN, television’s Saving Jessica Lynch) thought Saving Jessica Lynch) thought they had established a fresh they had established a fresh start. start.

But when his wife is grotesquely But when his wife is grotesquely killed in their apartment, Jamie killed in their apartment, Jamie cautiously returns to Ravens cautiously returns to Ravens Fair for the funeral, intent on Fair for the funeral, intent on unraveling the mystery of Lisa’s unraveling the mystery of Lisa’s untimely death.untimely death.

Stories Embody the Essence of Being Human

EXTENDED SYNOPSIS Once reunited with his ill father, Once reunited with his ill father, Edward (BOB GUNTON, The Edward (BOB GUNTON, The Perfect Storm), and his father’s Perfect Storm), and his father’s new young bride, Ella (AMBER new young bride, Ella (AMBER VALLETTA, Premonition), Jamie VALLETTA, Premonition), Jamie must dig into the town’s bloody must dig into the town’s bloody past to find out who killed his wife past to find out who killed his wife and why. All the while, he is and why. All the while, he is doggedly pursued by a detective doggedly pursued by a detective (DONNIE WAHLBERG, Saw III) (DONNIE WAHLBERG, Saw III) who doesn’t believe a word of who doesn’t believe a word of Jamie’s alibi.Jamie’s alibi.

Cinematic Story Telling is a Profoundly Humanizing

endeavor.

EXTENDED SYNOPSIS

As he uncovers the legend of As he uncovers the legend of Mary Shaw, the town’s wayward Mary Shaw, the town’s wayward son will unlock the story of her son will unlock the story of her curse and the truth behind the curse and the truth behind the threat from a rhyme in his threat from a rhyme in his childhood: childhood:

If you see Mary Shaw and If you see Mary Shaw and scream, she’ll take your tongue. scream, she’ll take your tongue. And the last thing you will hear And the last thing you will hear before you die…is your own before you die…is your own voice speaking back to you.voice speaking back to you.

Film making is a Community

Event.

LIFE CONNECTIONS

Actions have Actions have consequences ...first consequences ...first rule of life. rule of life. And the second rule is And the second rule is this - you are the only this - you are the only one responsible for one responsible for your own actions. your own actions.

--Holly Lisle, Fire In --Holly Lisle, Fire In The Mist, 1992The Mist, 1992

Art is a Liberating Force

Consequences are “the dead” that do return and speak

If the people who make the decisions are the people who will also bear the consequences of those decisions, perhaps better decisions will result.

--John Abrams, The Company We Keep:

CRITICAL OPINION

Director James Won Director James Won has fans derived from has fans derived from his famous his famous SawSaw series. This film, series. This film, therefore, sparked therefore, sparked interest as it was interest as it was being made. Before being made. Before its release, however, its release, however, there were no early there were no early screeners for critics. screeners for critics. So…So…

The Free Speech Discussion of the Arts is a Mark of a Free Society

FILM REVIEWFROM VISUAL HOLLYWOOD

Every decision and subsequent action have Every decision and subsequent action have corresponding consequences. It is the corresponding consequences. It is the ancient idea of “you reap what you sow” In ancient idea of “you reap what you sow” In this film death was the action and death was this film death was the action and death was the consequence. “They that live by the the consequence. “They that live by the sword will die by the sword.”sword will die by the sword.”

And more. What this film points to is the And more. What this film points to is the uncomfortable and haunting reality that uncomfortable and haunting reality that consequences may be reaped by others, and consequences may be reaped by others, and even by future generations. What is Gobal even by future generations. What is Gobal Warming, for example? Why do Sunnis and Warming, for example? Why do Sunnis and Shiites continue in age old bloody disputes? Shiites continue in age old bloody disputes? What does the Iraq War mean for America’s What does the Iraq War mean for America’s future generation? The dead do speak and future generation? The dead do speak and they can return violent ways. It’s called Dead they can return violent ways. It’s called Dead Silence!Silence!

Art is the Language of Liberation

DavidDavid Bruce BruceDavidDavid Bruce Bruce

FINDING TRUTH IN THIS PARTICULAR STORY

BECAUSE THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES: BECAUSE THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES: HOW THEN SHOULD WE LVE?HOW THEN SHOULD WE LVE?

““Every day I remind myself that my inner Every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the labors of and outer life are based on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still measure as I have received and am still receiving.” receiving.” --Albert Einstein--Albert Einstein

““Practicing the Golden Rule is not a Practicing the Golden Rule is not a sacrifice; it is an investment.” sacrifice; it is an investment.” --Author Unknown--Author Unknown

““Love others as you love yourself”Love others as you love yourself”--Ancient Hebrew Law--Ancient Hebrew Law

Society is only as free as its arts. Art is the voice of human freedom.

TRIVIA AND NEWS

The film had 2 previous names before The film had 2 previous names before "Dead Silence" was decided on, "Dead Silence" was decided on, (1) "Shhhh..."(1) "Shhhh..."(2) "Silence" (2) "Silence" with some suggestions from the with some suggestions from the writers and directors including "The writers and directors including "The Doll" and "Mary Shaw”Doll" and "Mary Shaw”

Dead Silence was completed in 6 Dead Silence was completed in 6 months and 17 days.months and 17 days.The puppet on the film's poster is The puppet on the film's poster is named Billy. This is a reference to named Billy. This is a reference to Billy the Jigsaw Puppet.Billy the Jigsaw Puppet.

In this movie Donnie Wahlberg's last In this movie Donnie Wahlberg's last name is Lipton, just like his character name is Lipton, just like his character in Band of Brothers.in Band of Brothers.

Movie Making is the Convergence of Many Talents and Art Forms

WHY MOVIES ARE SO IMPORTANT

"The meaning of life is the most urgent of "The meaning of life is the most urgent of questions" questions" --Albert Camus (Existentialist thinker--Albert Camus (Existentialist thinker)..

In In “Movies and the Meaning of Life”“Movies and the Meaning of Life” author Kimberly author Kimberly Blessing points out that movies can help us reflect Blessing points out that movies can help us reflect on five of life’s most important questions:on five of life’s most important questions:

1) What is reality and how can I know it? 1) What is reality and how can I know it? 2) How can I find my true identity? 2) How can I find my true identity? 3) What the significance of my interactions with 3) What the significance of my interactions with others? others? 4) What’s the point of my life? 4) What’s the point of my life? 5) How ought I to live my life? 5) How ought I to live my life?

The idea behind The idea behind Visual HollywoodVisual Hollywood is that Movies can is that Movies can and must play an essential role helping us explore and must play an essential role helping us explore the meaning of our existence and our life together. the meaning of our existence and our life together. No other quest is more necessary or important. No other quest is more necessary or important. Movies are powerful. Movies bring personal Movies are powerful. Movies bring personal meaning, and can contribute to a peaceful world. meaning, and can contribute to a peaceful world. Cinematic story telling can be a transforming event.Cinematic story telling can be a transforming event.

Visual Hollywood takes an existential approach to life. We celebrate with human freedom. We use movies and the arts as a means of understanding the human condition and our collective relation to the world around us.

Our basic quest is:

1. To know what it means to be human in the world.

2. The pursuit of human freedom.

To Restrict Creativity is to Restrict the very

Nature of the Creator

visual review byvisualhollywood.com

This Visual Hollywood work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution -NonCommercial -ShareAlike 2.5 License. You may display this work on your own site. You are free: to copy, distribute, display under the following conditions:1. Attribution - Credit VisualHollywood.com and make a web link.2. Noncommercial - You may not use this work for commercial purposes.

All film stills, trailers, video clips and trademarks are the property of their respective owners and may not be reproduced for any reason whatsoever.

This review is © 2006 David Bruce. All rights reserved. "Visual Hollywood " is a trademark owned by David Bruce.