Silent As The Grave movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Silent As The Grave

This indie mystery/crime movie is now available on VOD on Amazon Prime, Tubi, Google Play, and YouTube Movies.

LENGTH: 1 hour 30 minutes

RATING: PG-13

SPONSOR of Today’s movie review:

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Here’s the link: https://amzn.to/3W68NCN

IN A NUTSHELL:

The Creative Director/Award-winning Producer/Co-director reached out to me several months ago to invite me to screen his movie. Let’s add genius marketer to his list of achievements! I was recovering from a surgery and then went out of town a few times, so I’ve never had a good time to watch it until now. Finally! Brad Podowski wins the award for MOST PATIENT! You can learn about his production company at www.bpvideoplus.com

The whodunnit film has held a 100% positive review streak on Rotten Tomatoes for months! That’s so impressive!

Brad described the movie as not necessarily a faith-based film but rather, “it has a Christian worldview.” The other co-director is Dan Gremley.

The neo-noir story is about a relentless documentary filmmaker who struggles to unravel the mystery of his uncle’s death, but an unknown enemy is intent on keeping the truth buried.

THINGS I LIKED:

We’re told on the screen at the beginning of the movie that the film is based on actual events in the director’s life! His family had a similar mystery. The film is dedicated to Willard “David” Tremble, his uncle who died when he was only 16 years old. We even get to see a picture of him at the end.
All of the characters felt like real people. Nice.
I like that so many new faces fill the cast. The leading roles are performed by Michael Kunicki, Isabella Alonso, Gina Surles, Donna Steele, and Charlisa Anderson. I had never seen any of them in anything before and I liked that there were so many roles for older actors. I especially like R. Scott Purdy whose media headshot looks exactly like Santa Clause! His character’s name in the movie is “Crazed Man.” Ha ha
There are some creative camera angles that keep things interesting.
The musical score by Raphael Dargent provides a lot of variety that offers playfulness, intrigue, and tension, especially as the mystery picks up speed in Act 2.
The sound effects are entertaining.
If you love to piece together a puzzle, you’ll get a kick out of following the clues.
There’s just enough action to keep you engaged after long scenes of talking.

https://youtu.be/pGMYgLnE5YE?si=E5iRAR55dn0lf-AD

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

Some of the acting is pretty wooden.
Act 1 moves slowly as we’re introduced to the main characters.
The villain is pretty easy to spot the first time you see him/her. (no spoiler)

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Young kids will be bored.
We have to read texts on the screen.
Bullying
Some violence

THEMES:

Family secrets
The power of forgiveness
Crime
Mystery
Truth
Trust

FUNNY LINES:

‘I knew you’d be back. You’ve got that nagging quality about you.” Sally (Donna Steele)

INTERESTING LINES:

“This story…it didn’t turn out exactly the way I thought it would. It’s not about vengeance or even justice, but about empathy and healing.” – Director