Something of an obscure entry in 90s horror, Mute Witness saw a small theatrical release in 1995. Aside from a limited release, the Moscow-set horror thriller fell in between the glory days of the 80s slasher and before Wes Craven’s Scream re-invigorated horror. Though video stores were still booming, Mute Witness also wasn’t one of those VHS covers that regularly lined top shelves. Nevertheless, the little horror movie generated mostly positive reviews from critics. And now Shudder has added it to its growing list of titles for fans to re-visit or discover for the first time.
Synopsis
Billy Hughes, a special effects make-up artist, has been working on a low-budget slasher movie in production in Moscow. For weeks, she’s worked beside her older sister Karen’s boyfriend, and director, Andy Clarke. One night after she’s inadvertently lock in on the set after hours, Billy witnesses two men murder a woman while filming her death. Though she’s able to escape, Billy, who’s also mute, can’t convince Russian police that the murder happened. Only Karen believes her story. But is that enough protect her from a violent crime organization intent on making sure she never tells her story.
Mute Witness a Surprisingly Effective Mix of Suspense and Tension
From its opening scene, Mute Witness is something of a hard movie to describe and review. You have but you haven’t seen this type of movie before. It is, but it isn’t a slasher movie. And it’s a serious thriller, but it’s not. Maybe Mute Witness had a full theatrical release where you lived, but it feels like a straight-to-video horror movie. On one hand, it’s familiar, channeling the best of Hitchcock thrillers, but you won’t recognize anyone in the movie. Well, there’s one big actor you may notice if you’re paying close attention. Regardless, you’d be forgiven if Mute Witness fell under your radar even if you grew up with horror in the 1990s.
You have but you haven’t seen this type of movie before. It is, but it isn’t a slasher movie. And it’s a serious thriller, but it’s not.
Though it’s not an immediately recognizable horror movie, Mute Witness is a largely effective thrill ride that’s a contradiction in its style and impact. Writer and director Anthony Waller (An American Werewolf in Paris) immediately makes his thriller something worth watching. The writer and director mixes thrills and a bit of self-reflective humor in the opening scene. From that point onward, Mute Witness doesn’t follow any sort of expected narrative. Waller, who also serves as writer, borrows a few familiar psychological thriller tropes here and there. Yet he also doesn’t lean too heavily on these devices – the first 30 minutes or so of Mute Witness are a quiet thrill ride.
Mute Witness Suffers From Some Odd Tonal Inconsistencies
Over its first 30 minutes or so, Mute Witness is brutal, darkly humorous, and thrilling. Since it doesn’t immediately follow an expected narrative, there’s a sense of urgency, danger, and a bit of unpredictability. But Waller can’t quite keep up the pace or the sense of freshness to the storytelling. Yes, Waller still stages several edge-of-your-seat moments – the director seems to be in his element here. And he manages a couple of surprises in the final act.
But Waller can’t quite keep up the pace or the sense of freshness to the storytelling.
Where Mute Witness often feels odd in its second half is its tone. That is, Waller’s dark bits of humor from the opening scene – and the early cat-and-mouse tension – often give way to silly bits that feel out of place. Sometimes it feels like Waller is looking to add some of the same playful humor found in some of Hitchcock’s movies starring Cary Grant. Specifically, the scenes with Fay Ripley (Karen) and Evan Richards (Andy) just feel out of place with the rest of the thriller. In addition to tonal inconsistencies, Waller never really allows audiences to get to know Marina Zudina’s ‘Billy’, thereby reducing some tension as you are never completely invested in her plight. Legendary actor Alec Guinness inexplicably appears for a few seconds. How Waller convinced him to take the role is anyone’s guess.
Mute Witness Deserves a Look From Horror Fans
Admittedly, Mute Witness is something of an oddity of a horror movie. Tonally, it’s an inconsistent mess that feels small while delivering consistently effective suspense. It’s sort of a slasher movie, but not really, while employed aspects of suspense and psychological thriller with bits of comedy. And its story is consequential, but the results never rise above feeling trivial or passing. Simply put, there’s a lot of contradictions built into this forgotten mid-90s thriller that most horror fans likely missed. Nevertheless, Mute Witness is a consistently watchable thriller that surpasses even modest expectations.