Customer Reviews

Mute Witness [VHS]

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Mute witness" starts with a very funny take on low budget filmmaking, then offers a horriffic snuff-murder, followed by a cat and mouse game between a witness and the killer in a huge, abandoned building, then does some tiresome B-plot things with a important floppydisc which multiple parties are looking for, then goes for a shoot-out with a twist, and ends, finaly, with a bang.

Okay, for some explanation: a crew of Young Americans is making a slasher movie in Russia. What they don't know is that part of the Russian technicians are using the same sets at night to produce pornografic snuff. Billy, the mute special effects girl, is present by accident, and what follows is a chase through the building complex, which is so extremely well made and done, that even the chase-scenes in "Dressed to kill" and "Se7en" have to "snuff it".

Scene after scene, moment after moment, the killers close in on Billy, and with only her wit she manages to stay ahead. The whole sequence is done with great amount of detail and feel for true suspense and keeps the viewer on the very edge of his seat.

But when Billy is rescued from the bad guys, they track her down to her appartment. And again we're plagued with another hand full of topnotch suspense. Billy takes a quiet bath, and even this innocent scene is so put together and we, as the viewer, hold our breath in vein. And it only gets worse after this.

"Mute witness" can be put in the same spot as "Saw", "The Evil dead", "Cube", "Pi", "Halloween" and "Memento": all made by an enthusiastic group of young new talent, whose excitements are clearly visable all throughout the movies they made. This new bunch of talent, wit and exictement makes up for half a Great Movie, their craftmanship for the other half.

Mute Witness was a great surprise, I didn't expect this film to turn out to be this good at first I thought it would like a dull slasher wannabe with the way the film start off but then it obviously wasn't since it took place in a movie studio or an old factory in Russia used to shoot a slasher film. This film has all kinds of surprises and some really tense moments to it, having a mute as the lead character in the film was actually integral to the plot as the lead character played by Marina Sudina cannot speak a word so it is often the reason why she finds herself in a dangerous situation and cannot shout for help or warn someone which is quite clever there is so much suspense and some black humor as well. The film also uses an international cast with a few American actors and its to bad the film didn't get the recognition it deserves, the blood and gore was kept to a minimum and wasn't over the top but seemed realistic during the beginning where there was a snuff film was the only gory part. The film is about a mute American makeup artist named Billy Hughes who witnesses a brutal murder on a film set, as she tries to escape from the bad guys she finally manages to report the crime but it seems a bit difficult to believe her since the killers have gotten rid of the evidence and now she seems to be targeted by the same killers and finds it more difficult to trust anyone. The film was directed by Anthony Waller and it has some outstanding camera work, the atmosphere was claustrophobic and was very effective during the course of the film and the suspense had me on the edge of my seat it was brilliant it was one of the best thrillers I have ever seen, make sure that you don't miss this one.

With possibly more twists than any other horror/suspense movie in history - including "Psycho" and "Raising Cain", with possibly its only competion for the rapid twists crown coming from "Paranoiac" - "Mute Witness" is a wholly original and wholly unpredictable terror thrill ride that demands close attention from the viewer to keep up.

A small movie crew is on location in Moscow filming a horror movie when a mute girl - a member of the crew - witnesses what appears to be a real murder, possibly connected with some sort of real-life snuff movie outfit operating in the Russian criminal underworld. The Russian police - made up primarily of former-KGB agents - are called in and, although I'm well aware of the garbage that went down in the years when Stalin et al had the KGB committing their atrocities, the simple fact is that not All of the hundreds of thousands of men and women working in Soviet law enforcement could have been bad, it's statisically impossible, and it's an interesting and refreshing change to see these ex-KGBers presented in the 'good guy' role for a change. The lead investigator in particular is impressive - both the character and the actor. Though highly skeptical of the murder account given, he's compassionate with the young girl terrified by what she thinks she saw, totally non-patronizing, and highly efficient. The actor who plays him impresses hugely because before the movie he apparantly spoke virtually no English and taught himself enough in the few weeks before auditions to not only land the part but to give a tremendous performance, thus fitting in well with the high-caliber jobs done by all the actors and actresses involved. Speaking of refreshing, although the filmakers are all ardent horror enthusiasts making a horror movie, "Mute Witness" does not try for laughs by making them all, er... idiots, to be blunt... because they like horror (i.e. this is not "Scream" or similar 'spoof'-fare, which I know a lot of people love but I've never been able to get into). There Is humor in the movie, but it derives from less feeble sources, and it works, in spite of the intensity of the movie.

What I've said so far gives a rundown of only the early going of the movie. There are so many twists and turns that to go further would risk spoiling some of the surprises. I will say that using a mute character as the lead protagonist works brilliantly, and helps to make "Mute Witness" the masterpiece that it is.

Also recommended (or likewise, if you love the following you're likely to love "Mute Witness" as well) - "Raising Cain", "Dead Again", the original "Psycho" trilogy, "Nightmare" and "Paranoiac" (both on the superb - and superbly priced - "Hammer Horror Series" set), "When A Stranger Calls Back", "Double Vision", "The Perfect Bride" (with Kelly Preston) and "Lisa" (with Staci Keanan and Cheryl Ladd)

I do not have a single doubt that you will have a great scary, fun time watching this film.

I can't stop talking about "Mute Witness." Come on, folks - let's make this the "word of mouth" hit it deserves to be!

This is a great thriller. One of the best. The scenes where she is being chased and can't speak to let people know she is in serious trouble... it makes you want to scream for her, but the people in the movie can't hear you either so you just sit there screaming at the screen and clenching your hands so tightly that you just want to jump out of your own skin. A great movie and a must see. Show this one to people who have never heard of it before and you will have one classic movie night with friends.

MUTE WITNESS starts off with a bloody murder that isn't what it appears to be. Then, main character, Billy Hughes (Marina Sodina) witnesses what she believes is a real snuff-film being filmed. This leads into a very suspenseful part of the movie that even snagged my short attention span! Billy is of course the MUTE WITNESS, and her silent screams add tension and horror to the procedings. Her desperate attempts to elude the human monsters on her trail are some of the best I've seen. The scenes in the dilapidated film studio and in Billy's apartment are shot with sadistic perfection! The entire cast is great, with the russian cop being another standout. Fay Ripley is strong as Billy's sister and the only one who seems to believe her story. At times, I was reminded of the movie 8mm. There are also some parallels between this one and FX. However, MUTE WITNESS has enough originality and explosiveness to overcome any similarities! Watch for Sir Alec Guiness (Star Wars) as mysterious Reaper...

I love suspense movies. This is THE BEST Suspense movie I have ever seen. If you like to be thrilled and truly "on the edge of your seat" suspense, you will love this movie.
Great Cast, Great style, Great everything. Don't watch it with young children.

this move was great....a great script....loaded with surprises and shocks...you'll be biting your nails fast and they'll be all gone by the time the movie is over....fantastic suspense film....

A friend reccomended this film and I have to agree with her, it was an excellent film. The suspence is almost painful and it has a great twist ending. The best movie of 1995!!!