Ensofter Overrated and overhyped

Merolliv I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

Zlatica One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Logan By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

sarahtrepadus I've watched over hundreds of horror movies while on my quest to find the perfect horror film. I wanted to give up so many times because they weren't scary at all, even the ones with the good ratings. So I didn't expect much from this movie, but boy was I surprised. The first horror movie in more than 6 months of searching which was actually scary. It wasn't like cheap jumpscare scary, but there were a lot of thrilling moments. This movie kept me on the edge of my seat and I think is a great film for horror fanatics. I absolutely loved it and can't wait to find more real scary movies!

MostEvilHag I watch a lot of scary movies, like a lot. I remember hearing buzz about this movie a few years back but never got around to watching because I assumed it was your run of the mill over hyped scary movie. I was dead wrong. This movie scared the daylights out of me. It falls within the genre of jump scares and sound effects, but it weirdly does not come off as cheesy or cheap. Something about this movie is just really creepy and eery. Like another reviewer said, don't go into this movie expecting it to be bad and cheesy because it is easily picked apart. Just enjoy it because it is a great and scary portrayal of the story. Revolves around an old puppet that mysteriously shows up and raises hell. Has a killer twist ending, and will leave you scared even after you watch something funny afterwards... "Beware the stare of Mary Shaw....."

tiailds If you want a 90's horror made recently, this is what somewhere close."Was it interesting?" The basic story was alright if just a retooling of a classic plot. Some of the characters were asking to die, but not all.1.5 out of 3."Was it memorable?" The doll was mostly disappointing, just there to be creepy. The antagonist was rather cliché.1 out of 3."Was it entertaining?" Most of this movie was just bad writing with even worse dialog. Special effects were fine though cheap.1 out of 3.Starting with 1 (because the bad writers want it that way), 1 + 1.5 + 1 + 1 = 4.5 This is definitely a 4. This is a movie that was made 2 decades too late.

view_and_review The movie begins with a quote: "In the 6th Century B.C. it was believed that the spirits of the dead would speak through the stomach region of the living.From the Latin VENTER for 'belly' and LOQUI 'to speak' Hence the word VENTRILOQUIST" Hollywood is always looking for a new vessel for evil spirits. The doll project has already been done but apparently not in this manner. Not long into the movie a ventriloquist doll is delivered to the doorstep of Jamie Ashen (Ryan Kwanten) and his wife Lisa (Laura Regan). Shortly after that the wife dies a horrible death and Jamie looks like the main suspect.The story was essentially about a woman named Mary Shaw who wrought havoc upon the people of Ravens Fair after her death. There was even a poem about miss Mary, "blah blah blah Mary Shaw. Something or other don't scream." It was there as a poor attempt to drum up more intensity and fear.The whole story, as well as the characters, was stale. For some reason we were supposed to care about Jamie and his quest to find out about the doll and the death of his wife. Donnie Wahlberg, clearly in the movie for comic relief, played a Columbo style detective (sloppily dressed and everything) investigating Jamie for the murder of his wife. His character adds nothing to the movie except a paltry attempt at believability--in other words a woman can't wind up dead with no tongue without someone having committed the murder.The movie meanders on with Jamie pursuing answers and Det. Lipton pursuing him. There's some spooky stuff, jump scares, deaths and mercifully the movie ends. In the end there is a bit of a twist. The twist was kind of cool but because I didn't particularly like the story it was wasted. Dead Silence was a dud.