Synopsis
Marina Sudina is Billy Hughes, a make-up artist on an American film being shot in Moscow.She is also mute. Accidentally locked in the studio after hours, and unable to call for someoneto let her out, Sudina stumbles upon the making of a snuff movie. Pursued by the murderers, sheescapes, but her problems are only beginning. The snuff-makers are highly connected, andSudina soon doesn’t know whom to trust. The heroine’s muteness is deployed for maximumsuspense, and the first h…ur of the film is incredibly tense. The tension is dissipated somewhatin the latter part of the film (though never disappears entirely) due to the rather misplaced comicrelief antics of Evan Richards, who was clearly cloned from the same vat as SteveGuttenberg.
Audio
Merely a 2.0 mix, but a very good one. The dialogue is distortion-free, and the music hasnice reproduction. The effects are particularly impressive. Their left-right separation isconsistently strong, but what truly stands out is the use of the rear speakers. The openingsequence, which takes place from a killer’s POV, features the killer’s loud breathing literallycoming from over your shoulder. A very nice touch.
Video
So often these days, minor releases seem to be hit with fullscreen transfers, but that is notthe case here: the film is presented in all its 2.35:1 anamorphic glory. The picture is a bit grainy,however, and the colours are not quite as solid as I would like, especially given the lush, DarioArgento-influenced look the film has. On the other hand, there is no visible edge enhancement,and the flesh tones and contrasts are both good.
Special Features
Trailers for Darkness Falls, Identity and Anatomy. Nothing forMute Witness itself.
Closing Thoughts
Though not perfect, and squandering some of its initial powerful intensity, this is still anextremely entertaining thriller, and well worth checking out.
Special Features List
- Trailers
