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{{About|the 2007 film|other topics|Dead Silence (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox film
| name           = Dead Silence
| image          = Dead silence.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[James Wan]]
| producer       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Gregg Hoffman]]
* [[Oren Koules]]
* [[Mark Burg]]
}}
| screenplay     = [[Leigh Whannell]]
| story          = {{Plainlist|
* James Wan
* Leigh Whannell
}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Ryan Kwanten]]
* [[Amber Valletta]]
* [[Donnie Wahlberg]]
* [[Bob Gunton]]
}}
| music          = [[Charlie Clouser]]
| cinematography = [[John R. Leonetti]]
| editing        = Michael N. Knue
| studio         = [[Universal Pictures]]<br>[[Twisted Pictures]]<br>(uncredited)
| distributor    = Universal Pictures
| released       = {{Film date|2007|03|16}}
| runtime        = {{Plainlist|
* 89 minutes
* 92 minutes (unrated cut)
}}
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $20 million<ref name="BOM">{{Cite Box Office Mojo |title=Dead Silence|id=0455760 |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=April 12, 2025 |archive-date=January 20, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250120094626/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl2672592385/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
| gross          = $22.4 million<ref name="BOM"/>
}}

'''''Dead Silence''''' is a 2007 American [[supernatural horror film]] directed by [[James Wan]] and written by [[Leigh Whannell]]. The film stars [[Ryan Kwanten]] as Jamie Ashen, a young widower returning to his hometown to search for answers to his wife's death. It also stars [[Amber Valletta]], [[Donnie Wahlberg]], and [[Bob Gunton]].

''Dead Silence'' was theatrically released in the United States on March 16, 2007, by [[Universal Pictures]]. The film was dedicated to [[Gregg Hoffman]], who died in 2005. Upon release, it was considered a critical and [[Box-office bomb|commercial flop]], earning $22.4 million on a $20 million production budget, and received negative reviews from critics, who criticized the script, characters and [[Plot twist|twist ending]]. However, it has since developed a [[Cult film|cult following]].

==Plot==
Jamie Ashen and his wife Lisa receive an anonymous gift: a [[ventriloquist]] doll called "Billy". When Jamie goes out, a figure kills Lisa. Jamie returns to find his wife dead with her tongue cut off. He is arrested and interrogated by police detective Jim Lipton, but later released due to a lack of evidence. Inside Billy's box, Jamie finds a mysterious message about "Mary Shaw", a deceased ventriloquist from his hometown, Raven's Fair.

Returning to Raven's Fair, now old and rundown, Jamie visits his estranged, disabled father Edward and his much-younger wife, Ella. He arranges for Lisa's funeral with the help of local mortician Henry Walker. Henry's senile wife, Marion, urges him to bury Billy. Jamie does so but is confronted by Lipton, who finds his actions suspicious.

Henry explains that Mary Shaw was publicly humiliated by a young boy named Michael, who rudely claimed to see her lips moving during one of her performances. Later, after Michael disappeared, his family blamed it on Mary and [[lynching|lynched]] her. Mary's last wish was to have her body turned into a doll and buried with her collection of dolls - her "children." Henry, then a child, saw Mary (after she was turned into a dummy) rise up, but was spared thanks to his silence, because Mary only kills those who scream when exposed to her true appearance. Jamie finds out that Michael, who actually ''was'' murdered by Mary, was his great-uncle. The Ashen family forced Mary to scream and silenced her by cutting her tongue out; she has since been seeking revenge against their bloodline by killing them the same way.

Mary kills Henry, and Lipton discovers that all of her dolls have been dug up. At Mary's old theater, Jamie and Lipton discover 100 of the dolls in their display case, along with Michael's body, which had been turned into a [[marionette]]. Mary's ghost reveals that she killed Lisa because she was pregnant with his child, thereby killing any potential newborn of the Ashen family. Jamie and Lipton start a fire to destroy the dolls, but Lipton trips and screams, sealing his fate. Back at his father's residence, Jamie is confronted by Mary, but repels her by throwing Billy into the fireplace. He learns, much to his horror, that his father is already dead; the current "Edward" he has been interacting with all this time is a doll converted from his corpse; his voice was provided by Ella, the "perfect doll" that Mary created before her death. Jamie screams as Ella becomes possessed by Mary; he suffers the same fate as everyone else.

Mary flips through a photo album of her victims: Jamie, Lisa, Lipton, Henry and Edward, and finally Ella. She closes the book, having completed her revenge.

==Cast==
* [[Ryan Kwanten]] as Jamie Ashen 
* [[Amber Valletta]] as Ella Ashen
* [[Donnie Wahlberg]] as Detective Jim Lipton
* [[Bob Gunton]] as Edward Ashen
* [[Michael Fairman]] as Henry Walker
** [[Keir Gilchrist]] as Young Henry Walker
* Joan Heney as Marion Walker
* [[Laura Regan]] as Lisa Ashen
* [[Judith Roberts (actress)|Judith Roberts]] as Mary Shaw
* Steven Taylor as Michael Ashen
* [[Dmitry Chepovetsky]] as Richard Walker
* Shelley Peterson as Lisa's Mom
* [[Enn Reitel]] as Billy (voice)
* [[Fred Tatasciore]] as the Clown Doll (voice)
* [[Susan Silo]] as Elderly lady (voice)
* [[Julian Richings]] as Boz (uncredited)

== Production ==
Filming took place in [[Toronto, Ontario, Canada]] in October 2005 and concluded May 2006 <ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-01-22 |title=Set Visit: Dead Silence |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/01/22/set-visit-dead-silence |access-date=2023-07-24 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-date=July 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724142201/https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/01/22/set-visit-dead-silence |url-status=live }}</ref> The setting for the film's story, the non-fictional suburb of "Raven's Fair," is situated at Badley Bridge and goes by the name "Raven's Fair Town Sign".<ref>{{Citation |title=Dead Silence filming locations — MovieMaps |url=https://moviemaps.org/movies/4nr |access-date=2023-07-24 |archive-date=February 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202143338/https://moviemaps.org/movies/4nr |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Release ==
''Dead Silence'' was released in the United States on March 16, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|title=Release dates for Dead Silence (2007)|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455760/releaseinfo|work=IMDb|publisher=IMDb.com, Inc.|access-date=1 August 2012|author=IMDb|year=1990–2012|archive-date=April 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408202917/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455760/releaseinfo/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Reception==
===Box office===
In the United States, as of April 16, 2007, the film's total domestic [[Gross (economics)|gross]] has been worth [[United States dollar|US$]]16.8 million (according to [[Box Office Mojo]]), and screenings of ''Dead Silence'' were ceased in most theatres 16 days following its release; the film's estimated [[production budget]] was US$20 million. As of April 1, 2009, US$5,572,971 has been generated globally. Worldwide, the film has grossed $22,382,047.<ref name="BOM"/>

===Critical reception===
On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film has a rating of 21%, based on 84 reviews, with an average rating of 3.90/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "More tasteful than recent slasher flicks, but ''Dead Silence'' is undone by boring characters, bland dialogue, and an unnecessary and obvious [[twist ending]]."<ref>{{cite web|title=''Dead Silence'' (2007)|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dead_silence/|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Flixster]]|access-date=June 9, 2025|archive-date=September 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924224258/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dead_silence|url-status=live}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film holds a score of 34 out of 100, based on 15 reviews, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews.<ref>{{cite web|title=''Dead Silence'' (2007)|url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/dead-silence|work=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=[[CNET Networks]]|access-date=September 26, 2016|archive-date=November 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127063043/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/dead-silence|url-status=live}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "C+" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemascore.com|title=Find CinemaScore|format=Type "Dead Silence" in the search box|publisher=[[CinemaScore]]|access-date=November 19, 2025}}</ref>

Nicholas Barber of ''[[The Independent]]'' gave a positive review, describing the film as "a ludicrous ghost story from the Saw team", while stating: "Dead Silence is a guilty pleasure, especially if you have a gottle of geer beforehand."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barber |first=Nicholas |date=July 8, 2007 |title=Dead Silence* |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-independent-dead-silence/131752392/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240618012459/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-independent-dead-silence/131752392/ |archive-date=18 June 2024}}</ref>

In a negative review, [[Peter Bradshaw]] of ''[[The Guardian]]'' gave the film a 2 stars out of 5 and wrote: "The first horrifying death that the dummy causes is genuinely pretty scary, though from then on, the story deflates a little, returning to its former power only with the final revelation about Jamie's disabled father, who holds the key to these terrible deaths. A reasonable shocker."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bradshaw |first=Peter |date=2007-07-06 |title=Dead Silence |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2007/jul/06/horror |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216222615/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2007/jul/06/horror |archive-date=16 December 2013 |access-date=2025-04-11 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Charles Kassady Jr. of ''[[Common Sense Media]]'' gave the same rating and wrote: "Some of the scary stuff is just fleeting glimpses of Mary's ghost, reflected in a mirror or in deep shadow. ''Dead Silence'' actually gets less frightening when the filmmakers apply the fancy CGI special-effects or reveal Mary Shaw in full. It's far more ominous just to show the dummy's staring eyes or grinning face suddenly turned in a different position than the last shot."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Movie & TV reviews for parents |title=Dead Silence Movie Review {{!}} Common Sense Media |url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/dead-silence |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090917171402/https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/dead-silence |archive-date=17 September 2009 |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=[[Common Sense Media]] |language=en}}</ref>

Despite the initial negative reception, the film garnered a cult following. Cody Parish of ''[[PopMatters]]'' said it's "unlike anything Wan has made."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-06-11 |title=Why 'Dead Silence' Is the Forgotten Gem of James Wan's Horror Oeuvre » PopMatters |url=https://www.popmatters.com/james-wan-dead-silence-2646165002.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616014543/https://www.popmatters.com/james-wan-dead-silence-2646165002.html |archive-date=16 June 2020 |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=[[PopMatters]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Home video===
The film was released on [[DVD]] and [[HD DVD]] on June 26, 2007, with an "[[Unrated films|unrated]]" version also released. The film has since grossed US$17,304,718 in overall DVD sales.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dead Silence – DVD Sales|url=http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2007/SLENC-DVD.php|work=The Numbers|publisher=Nash Information Services, LLC|access-date=1 August 2012|author=The Numbers|year=1997–2012|archive-date=May 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501235413/http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2007/SLENC-DVD.php|url-status=live}}</ref>

''Dead Silence'' was released on [[Blu-ray Disc]] internationally in 2010 and wasn't released on Blu-ray in the United States until 2015, when it was announced on May 15 that [[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]] would be releasing the film to Blu-ray Disc in the U.S. It was released on August 11.<ref>{{cite web|title=''Dead Silence'' Unrated Blu-ray|url=http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=16804|website=Blu-ray.com|access-date=27 May 2015|archive-date=May 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528010859/http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=16804|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Soundtrack==
{{Infobox album
| name       = Dead Silence Soundtrack
| type       = Soundtrack
| artist     = Charlie Clouser, Aiden
| cover      =
| alt        =
| released   = March 16, 2007
| recorded   =
| venue      =
| studio     =
| genre      = Score, [[horror punk]], [[Gothic rock]]
| length     = 51:19
| label      = [[Lakeshore Records]]
| producer   = Charlie Clouser, Aiden
| prev_title = [[Saw III (soundtrack)|Saw III]]
| prev_year  = 2006
| next_title = [[Saw IV (soundtrack)|Saw IV]]
| next_year  = 2007
| misc       = {{Singles
 | name        = Dead Silence
 | type        = soundtrack
 | single1     = [[We Sleep Forever]]
 | single1date = March 2007 ([[Rain in Hell]])
}}
}}
[[Lakeshore Records]] released the soundtrack of ''Dead Silence'' on March 20, 2007. The CD contains 31 tracks, the first track being the song "[[We Sleep Forever]]" performed by American rock band [[Aiden]] (despite not actually being featured in the film itself). The rest of the CD is taken up by [[Charlie Clouser]]'s film score. Clouser previously scored Wan's first commercially released film, ''[[Saw]]'' and its many sequels.

;Track listing
# "[[We Sleep Forever]]" – [[Aiden]]
# "Main Titles" [2:56]
# "Sheet" [1:08]
# "Blood" [1:41]
# "Apartment" [1:28]
# "Raven's Fair" [0:59]
# "Dad's House" [0:47]
# "Ella" [1:29]
# "My Son" [1:03]
# "What Poem?" [1:31]
# "Caskets" [1:57]
# "Motel Hearse" [1:22]
# "It Can't Be" [1:40]
# "Funeral" [0:49]
# "Billy" [2:42]
# "Perplexed" [1:25]
# "Steal Billy" [0:50]
# "Lips Moving" [1:57]
# "Coffin" [2:16]
# "Photos" [1:36]
# "Map Drive" [0:49]
# "Guignol" [1:57]
# "He Talked" [3:06]
# "It's Soup" [2:09]
# "Full Tank" [1:49]
# "Doll Wall" [1:37]
# "All the Dolls" [1:07]
# "One Left" [0:27]
# "Mary Shaw" [0:31]
# "Dummy" [1:05]
# "Family Album" [0:37]

==Post-release commentary==
In his personal [[blog]], screenwriter [[Leigh Whannell]] reveals the origins of the film within the context of the [[Film industry#Hollywood|Hollywood film industry]]. In a candid post entitled "Dud Silence: The Hellish Experience of Making a Bad Horror Film", Whannell explains that the film was conceived following the advice of his [[Talent agent|agent]] at the time and that a "[[script doctor]]" was eventually employed by the [[Film studio|production studio]]. Whannell concludes the post with a description of the key lessons that were learned following the ''Dead Silence'' experience:

{{blockquote|
After everything is said and done, I'm almost glad ''Dead Silence'' happened, because it gave me an extreme, coal-face lesson in what not to do. It was like learning to swim by leaping off Niagara Falls. I only write scripts on spec now, which means that I write them in my own time without getting paid and then take them out into the world to see if anyone's interested. Never again will I enter the arranged marriage of selling a [[Pitch (filmmaking)|pitch]]. I have also become very gun-shy about working with studios. In the world of independent film, what you write ends up on screen. Plus, they don't have the money to bring in script doctors! Works fine for me. Who knows, maybe one day I will work with a studio again...<ref>{{cite web|title=Dud Silence: The Hellish Experience Of Making A Bad Horror Film|url=http://thewordinthestone.com/#!111|work=Word In The Stone|publisher=Leigh Whannell|access-date=2021-12-06|author=Leigh Whannell|date=31 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120709023933/http://thewordinthestone.com/#!111|archive-date=July 9, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}

In retrospect, director [[James Wan]] said: "''Dead Silence'', my second movie and first studio film, was really me responding to the reaction that ''[[Saw (film)|Saw]]'' was getting, meaning that people were harping on the torture aspect of ''Saw''. So I made a very conscious decision to move away from that style of film and into something that was more of a haunted house, ghost story, which is a genre I love. But, of course, ''Saw'' made such a strong impression that it carried into ''Dead Silence''. A lot of people were expecting something similar to ''Saw'', but it wasn’t. Ultimately, it didn’t do that well, financially, and at the time, people didn’t really like it. But now, strangely, so many fans reach out to tell me how much they love ''Dead Silence''."<ref>{{cite web |date=June 2, 2023 |title=James Wan on Finishing 'Aquaman' Sequel, AI Fears and Where 'Saw' Came from |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/james-wan-aquaman-sequel-saw-1235503363/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602131508/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/james-wan-aquaman-sequel-saw-1235503363/ |archive-date=2 June 2023 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0455760|Dead Silence}}
* {{mojo title|deadsilence|Dead Silence}}
* {{rotten-tomatoes|dead_silence|Dead Silence}}
* {{Metacritic film|title=Dead Silence}}

{{James Wan}}
{{Leigh Whannell}}
{{Twisted Pictures}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dead Silence}}
[[Category:2007 films]]
[[Category:2007 horror films]]
[[Category:American supernatural horror films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Charlie Clouser]]
[[Category:Films directed by James Wan]]
[[Category:Films about mannequins]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by James Wan]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Leigh Whannell]]
[[Category:American gothic horror films]] <!-- https://collider.com/james-wan-leigh-whannell-dead-silence/ -->
[[Category:Ventriloquism]]
[[Category:Universal Pictures films]]
[[Category:Films about spirit possession]]
[[Category:2000s supernatural horror films]]
[[Category:Horror films about toys]]
[[Category:2007 English-language films]]
[[Category:2007 American films]]
[[Category:English-language horror films]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=Dead Silence|access_date=2026-03-02}}