Silent Fall (1994)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Bruce Beresford

Writer (WGA):

Akiva Goldsman (written by)

Release Date:

28 October 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller | Mystery

Tagline:

A Savage Crime. A Silent Witness.

Plot:

An autistic boy witnesses his parents' double murder. Richard Dreyfuss as a controversial therapist...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Playing Card | Psychiatrist | Exercise | Obsession

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Richard Dreyfuss	...	Dr. Jake Rainer
Linda Hamilton	...	Karen Rainer
John Lithgow	...	Dr. Harlinger
J.T. Walsh	...	Sheriff Mitch Rivers
Ben Faulkner	...	Tim Warden
Liv Tyler	...	Sylvie Warden
Zahn McClarnon	...	Deputy Bear
Brandon Stouffer	...	Halloween Kid #1
Treva Moniik King	...	Halloween Kid #2
John McGee Jr.	...	Deputy
Ron Tucker	...	Forensic Detective
Catherine Shaffner	...	Martha
Heather M. Bomba	...	Twin #1
Marianne E. Bomba	...	Twin #2
Jane Beard	...	Carol Simmons

Runtime:

USA:101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Germany:16 | Argentina:13 | Spain:13 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Company:

Kouf/Bigelow Productions

Trivia:

The film's working title was "Indian Summer".

Quotes:

Dr. Jake Rainer: You're going to shoot me? How are you going to explain that?
Sylvie Warden: I'll think of something

Movie Connections:

Features Stay Tuned (1992)

Soundtrack:

Piano Concerto No. 21 In C Major, K467 'Elvira Madigan'

Not great, but worth a watch

First, let's admit that we're not watching this to learn the medical characteristics of autism. The purpose of watching the film is for entertainment.

That said, this film held my attention. I *DID* figure it out shortly before the end and admit that the clues were there all the way through, some pretty strong. Personally, I think that's what makes a good mystery, that it *CAN* be figured out.

Performances: I always enjoy Richard Dreyfuss' work. While he has done better, he didn't disappoint me. John Lithgow was completely believable as always. The real star, though, was Ben Faulkner as Tim, the autistic boy. Ignoring the voice dubbing for the adults (part of the script), he did a wonderful job in a part that had to be difficult at best. I find it strange that this is the only acting job he held. Hopefully, it's because he decided that he wanted to be a kid rather than an actor. Hollywood's loss.