Dead Silence (2007) with Luisa Colón

Following the unexpected arrival of a ventriloquist dummy on his doorstep, and the sudden, violent death of his wife – two events that might be related – Jamie Ashen is arrested by Detective Lipton, a cop with a thing for electric razors. Lipton’s also a by the books kind of guy who’s convinced Jamie is responsible for his wife’s death. But Jamie doesn’t have time for games — he’s determined to find out who or what killed his wife and tore her tongue out in the process. His search takes him back to his home town of Raven’s Fair, where the superstitious residents suspect the spectral Mary Shaw, a long-dead ventriloquist, may be to blame. Seems Shaw was connected to the disappearance and ritual murder of families years back, then became the victim herself of a heinous crime. With Lipton on his tail, Jamie visits his aging father Edward, his young wife Ella, local mortician Henry and his demented wife Marion, who unspool a tale too fantastic to be true.  And slowly, the truth about Raven’s Fair reveals itself to Jamie’s unsuspecting, and for now human, eyeballs.

Intro, Math Club, Debate Society, Hot for Teacher (spoiler-free): 00:00-26:04
Honor Roll and Detention (spoiler-heavy): 26:05-1:07:52
Superlatives (spoiler-heavier): 1:07:53-1:25:35

Director James Wan
Screenplay Leigh Whannell, based on a story by Wan and Whannell
Featuring Michael Fairman, Bob Gunton, Joan Heney, Ryan Kwanten, Laura Regan, Judith Roberts, Amber Valletta, Donnie Wahlberg

Luisa Colón is a New York City native who began her career as a journalist in the late 90s. Her work has appeared in numerous print and online publications such as New York, Latina, USA Today, The New York Times, and many more. Her first novel. Bad Moon Rising was published in August, and she has a short story in the upcoming horror anthology, DREAD, which is published by the aptly-named Cemetery Dance Publications. Luisa's other creative work includes illustration as well as two murals currently displayed at the World Trade Center. Her Substack, Disaster Class, can be found here. As an actor she starred in the award-winning 2006 indie film Day Night Day Night and played the titular role in Alejandro González Iñárritu’s 2007 short film Anna.

Our theme music is by Sir Cubworth, with embellishments by Edward Elgar.  Music from Dead Silence by Charlie Clouser.

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