Search - Silent Scream on DVD

Finally available on DVD!

R. Hamilton | USA | 10/08/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been waiting ages for this horror flick to be released on DVD. At last, the moment has arrived! This 1980 film has all the elements of a good horror movie: suspense, creepy characters and settings, and chilling music. It even has a few lines of cheesy dialogue (something no horror flick should be without! lol). The plot is interesting and has a number of twists - including the revelation of a family secret, which leads to grave consequences.

College student Scotty Parker (Rebecca Balding) is unable to find on-campus housing. As a result, she rents a room at the Engels seaside mansion, which has been turned into a boarding house. Three other students also rent rooms there. When one of them is found murdered on the nearby beach, the police begin an investigation - with a special focus on the Engels family - but can they solve the mystery before the other students meet the same grisly fate?

Barbara Steele delivers a terrifying, outstanding performance as the mute and disturbed Victoria Engels. Her eyes alone are enough to frighten you. Yvonne De Carlo, in her 50s at the time, plays her mother and also delivers a credible performance. The pair is perfectly cast, due to both their talent and very noticeable resemblance.

Special features include the following:
* Mastered in HiDef from the Original InterPositive
* Brand New 5.1 Surround Sound
* Audio commentary with Writer/Producers Ken and Jim Wheat, and star Rebecca Balding
* Three all-new Featurettes: "Scream of Success: 30 Years Later," "Silent Scream: The Original Script," and "The Wheat Bros: A Look Back"
* Director Denny Harris' Final Audio Interview
* Theatrical Trailer
* TV Spot

I am definitely looking forward to owning this movie on DVD ... finally.

Many thanks to those who made it happen!"

Silent sleep, scream for horror

Martin Montag | INTERZONE | 01/11/2010

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I hate to write a negative review for low-budget horror, my favourite movie genre, and was genuinely excited by the prospect of Silent Scream. Having never seen the film back in the 1980's during my BETA/VHS initiation into un-televised horror films and after reading on IMDB the many favourable user comments I thought I had to buy what seemed to be one that went under my radar back in the day.
How wrong I was, apart from the fairly atmospheric slow-motion prologue and one effectively creepy slow-motion camera point-of-view exploration of a basement, this film literally put me to sleep. Cameron Mitchell dials in his performance as if after swallowing a bottle of mogadons. Barbara Steele is effective, though by the time she makes her appearance I was in the land of nod, having to watch the film again to catch up with her performance. The rest of the actors aren't too bad, but failed to engage me in their story. The romance between the female lead and fellow male college student has all the chemistry of washing powder and so ineffectually overplayed as to make me question the film-makers intent; leaving me incredulous and distracted into mild anger. The too few horror elements are delivered without requisite bite or panache or at least explicitly visceral enough for the time period Silent Scream was made and the whole endeavour whilst not incompetent moves along like a slug in treacle.
The score is unmemorable; I can't recall it as I write this, having watched the film recently. Bottom line being my lack of concern for anyone involved, probably the worse crime a filmmaker can commit and doubly so for a horror film. What a terrible shame, I was all set for what I had been led to believe was something above average and whilst the picture and sound quality are both very good on the DVD my overall response to this film is one of a crushing sense of induced apathetic disappointment. I really can't recommend this film, and am baffled by the other highly favourable reviews here on Amazon and IMDB
"

A Top Fun & Scary Movie For Its Time

B. Riccomini | 01/22/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Silent scream is a movie that was a slasher film made in a time in the early 80s where everyone wanted to "cash" in on slasher films. While this film is not an academy award winning film, it was scary for its time. This is another one of my picks for people who collect vintage 80s slasher films. Most younger people will probably laugh at most of it, some of the hard-core collectors will find it a gem. The film has never been on DVD until now, so I'm sure all the people out there can maybe actually put that vhs player away.

There are sill more vintage 80s slasher films that I wish would be re-released on DVD/BLU RAY titles like "Hell Night". I can only keep crossing my fingers!"