Product Details

• Actors: Gary Basaraba, John Bourgeois, Kim Coates, Neil Crone, Lolita Davidovich
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Hbo Home Video
• VHS Release Date: August 7, 2001
• Run Time: 105 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0783110839
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #307,164 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This unusually taut thriller features James Garner playing against type as John Potter, a humorless FBI agent negotiating with an escaped convict, who, along with two cronies, has kidnapped a school bus full of deaf students and their teacher (Marlee Matlin). Stashed in an abandoned slaughterhouse, which is as much a character as the people in this HBO movie, the convicts and their prisoners sweat out Potter's refusal to give in to demands, despite the fact that he lost hostages--and the public's faith--his last time around. Garner gives his usual sterling performance, Kim Coates is an evil surprise as the ringleader of the convicts, and Matlin is fine, but underused, in a wordless performance. Lolita Davidovich comes in late in the game to tie up the loose ends and give the ending its punch. Director Daniel Petrie Jr. sets up the action during opening credits, an efficiency mirrored throughout the movie and capped off by an unexpected, but not out-of-the-blue ending. Donald Stewart (Missing) based his tightly written screenplay on Jeffrey Deaver's novel A Maiden's Grave. --Kimberly Heinrichs

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars NEGOTIATING THRILLS, February 20, 2004

By 

Michael Butts (Berkeley Springs, WV USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dead Silence [VHS] (VHS Tape)

DEAD SILENCE is based on Jeffery Deavers' excellent "A Maiden's Grave," and as is in most instances, the book is better than the movie. But to screenwriter Donald Stewart's credit, his script maintains much of Deavers' plotting and nuances to be a credible adaptation.
A busload of deaf mute students is held hostage by a notorious bankrobber, played with effective and cold mania by the underrated Kim Coates. The schoolteacher (Marlee Matlin) is heroic in trying to come up with ways to get her kids out of this mess. But FBI negotiator John Potter (played with controlled excellence by the ever dependable James Garner) has his own way of dealing with the hostage situation.
There are some nifty plot twists (a norm for the crafty Deavers) and the cast plays them out well. Director Daniel J. Petrie, Jr., focuses on the characterizations with minimal over-wrought histrionics. Charles Martin Smith plays the swarmy assistant attorney general; Scott Speedman in an early role plays the heroic Stevie; and Lolita Davidovich comes on late as a hostage negotiator who has had her turn with Coates.
A sharp, intelligent thriller.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Riveting!, July 7, 2008

By 

Anony Mous (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dead Silence [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I found this suspense thriller excellent--in writing, acting, directing, and setting. There was continuous conflict, danger, surprises, and suspense. The characters were believable, and it had one great twist near the end which took me by surprise. Thoroughly entertaining! Get it!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nothing is as good as READING Deaver, April 16, 2011

By 

Charlene Heinkelein "REALnurse" (Cinti,Oh,USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dead Silence (DVD)

The movie was OK, it followed the story line pretty well. Good actors, but you know, if you read very much, the movie is rarely as good as the book. But overall, I liked it. It took me FOREVER to find, untill I thought of Amazon. Thanks 'A'