Silent as the Grave

Semi-fictional story about a documentary filmmaker who investigates details surrounding the mysterious death of a family member, his Uncle in 1960. This smart indie film has good pacing, is beautifully lit, and carries an evocative music score. Lead actor Michael Kunicki was very good in his portrayal of a husband with divided interests. I really enjoyed Isabella Alonso in her portrayal as his wife. Directors Brad Podowsky and Dan Gremley do an excellent job of placing you as viewer into lead character's shoes. Enjoyed villain turn by actor Antonio Ciano - believably scary. Definitely worth watching.

Silent as the Grave is a movie drenched in life's deep secrets. Uncle Edgar's supposed freight elevator accident ain't as simple as it seems. The vibe of this joint is next level, sucking you into a vortex of unease. Shadows and sounds murmuring in the background keep you on edge and anticipating the next bomb drop of family secrets. The pacing is what hooks you, the suspense and emotion between investigation and heart grabbing reveals, take you on a trip through a web of family ties that are complex. As the plot unfolds the truth drops and it leaves you shocked. So, if you're craving a journey that stirs your soul, "Silent as the Grave" is calling. Grab your popcorn and get ready for a maze of mystery and redemption.

Based on true events, its an effective crime drama focusing on a documentary filmmaker who sets out to make his second feature investigating the decades old death of his uncle who may have been murdered. Written and co directed by Brad Podowski (and Dan Gremley), the film is paced well, acted by a strong ensemble with a nice subtle approach. As our filmmaker hero, lead Chris (what a great name, lol!), Michael Kunicki gives his role the right amount of nerdish determination to make him charming and likable. He's surrounded by a good ensemble cast. Podowski and Gremley make good use of the Chicago locations and the moody score by Raphael Dargent is a highlight. This is a stylish film noir whodunnit (set during one Christmas) and worth a look on Tubi.

I've long been a fan of film noir and just recently finished reading Eddie Muller's "Dark City: The Lost World of Film Noir." So when I saw the trailer for this neo-noir-esqe crime story, I just had to take a look. And I'm so glad I did. Silent as the Grave is about a documentary filmmaker with his own love of film noir. And his curiosity about a family mystery soon leads him into a real life crime story of his own. I won't spoil the plot, but it's fair to say as the mystery grows, so does the filmmakers sense of peril. This was a delicious crime-drama. And you don't have to be a noir fan like me to enjoy it. If you like a good, involving mystery with some dark family secrets, you'll get into this movie. I absolutely recommend it.

I enjoyed this film which is a family suspense drama based on true family stories. That's what hooked me and it's a slow build up to the conclusion but worth it although I had a feeling about who the "bad guy" was from their introduction. The lead actor is good as he uncovers family secrets but the supporting characters could have been developed more. I liked the cinematography and the overall look of the film, much more professional than other independent films of this genre. Editing could have been a little snappier to bring out the suspense but the noir-ish score is top notch and surprisingly jazzy in parts, which I loved.