If you knew me, you would know that I don’t particularly enjoy horror movies. I don’t like ghosts, or haunted dolls, paranormal activity; and mostly I don’t like being scared to the point where I jump out of my seat. So when a group of me and my friends decided to watch the movie, Dead Silence, you could say that I was not thrilled.

The story begins after a couple receives a strange package with a doll named Billy inside. The main character, Jaime, undergoes a devastating tragedy; his wife, Lisa, being murdered. Jaime returns to his hometown, Ravens Fair, to prepare for the funeral. In Ravens Fair, there is an old folktale about a ventriloquist named Mary Shaw. After she went mad in the 1940s, she was accused of kidnapping a young boy who yelled out that she was a fraud in one of her performances. Because of this, she was hunted down by townspeople who cut out her tongue and then killed her. They buried her along with her “children,” a handmade collection of vaudeville dolls. While searching to find out the cause of Lisa’s murder, Jaime comes to the conclusion that one of Mary Shaw’s dolls is responsible for her death.

Ryan Kwanten, playing Jaime, does a great job portraying the role of a protective, heartbroken, and determined husband. His endless search for finding the culprit of his wife’s death captivates the audience and keeps you on the edge of your seat, literally. Another great character is Billy, the doll himself. Although he does not talk or have an actor playing his part, his role in the movie is eerie and spooky. His sharp and mysterious eyes follow Jaime throughout his search and send chills down the spines of many.

For many reasons, Dead Silence is rated R.

1. The movie contains mild profanity.
2. There are violent and gruesome scenes that include both blood and death.
3. For younger children, some scenes may be too intense and frightening

The director of this movie, James Wan, has directed other horror movies in the past. Some of his past movies have been said to be too bloody and intense. Some of his other works include; Saw, The Conjuring, Insidious, the Furious 7, and more.

If you have nightmares easily, I would suggest staying away from this movie. To be honest, after watching this movie, it was hard for me to look at my 10-year-old sister’s American Girl Dolls. Although I personally don’t enjoy horror movies, for those of you who do, Dead Silence is a great bloodcurdling, hair-raising, and terrifying movie to watch.