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Poster for Silent Fall

Silent Fall

A Savage Crime. A Silent Witness.

1994 · 1h 41m · R Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Directed by Bruce Beresford

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Overview

Having seen the double murder of his parents, autistic youth Tim Warden is sent to therapy with controversial therapist Dr. Jake Rainer. Jake tries to probe the silent child about what he saw, but he gets more details about the Wardens' household dynamics from Tim's teenage sister, Sylvie. As he spends more time with the siblings, Jake learns that the Wardens' marriage was not as perfect as it seemed, and he uncovers other new details that might help solve the crime.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
29%
Tomatometer
Rotten

Poorly scripted by Akiva Goldsman, this murder mystery (helmed by Bruce Beresford) represents an awkward synthesis of autism and family abuse as social problems, failing to deliver suspense or excitement on any level.

Emanuel Levy, Variety
Rotten

So predictable that you would almost swear you'd seen it before.

Hal Hinson, Washington Post
Rotten

It's the kind of picture that results when a film maker loses sight of the fact that a portion of his audience might actually think while watching a movie.

James Berardinelli, ReelViews
Rotten

Silent Fall, a dramatically repressed psychodrama, could be sued for creative malpractice.

Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Rotten

Beresford draws the best from a fine cast. Only when he tries to up the thrill quotient near the end are the contrivances of Akiva Goldsman's debut script revealed, like cracks in the smooth surface of a frozen lake.

Time Out

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