Dead Silence (2007)

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Jamie Ashen	Ryan Kwanten
Ella Ashen	Amber Valletta
Det. Jim Lipton	Donnie Wahlberg
Henry Walker	Michael Fairman	½
Marion Walker	Joan Hensey
Edward Ashen	Bob Gunton

Review

Here is the highly talented Aussie filmmaking duo of James Wan and Leigh Whannell's follow-up to the brilliant Saw (2004). Even though the studios aren't finished milking the egged tool, Dead Silence is welcomed proof that Wan and Whannell have new ideas that they are ready to present. Unfortunately, they aren't as fresh as they were three years ago. My main objection with Dead Silence is neither Wan's ability as a narrator or Whannell's cleverness, but simply the lack of new thinking and inventiveness that is apparent in Dead Silence. Thematically, the film has its elements, and the film has some real eeriness, notably in the theatre flashback scene and in another segment I shall not mention, but the majority of scares and plot developments are too conventional to make experienced horror personnel jump in their seats. Useful acting, especially by Donnie Wahlberg who goes all Mickey Rourke with his Detective Lipton, spices the film up.