it be always a well know and and important directorial device to set up the atmosphere of a film within the first 5 minute . in the crucial opening scene and the film should assert itself and make the viewer take notice and get interested in the rest of the film . here and in mute witness and we find a prime example of this . scene spoiler in the first 5 10 minute and the film open to a very hitchcockian scene of a pretty blonde lady in her apartment and with the radio on . she wander around and apply lipstick and dolling herself up and and ignore the news report of a serial killer on the loose . of course and the serial killer be in her house and and monitor her move and knife in hand . she hear a noise and look in a room and and there be her partner in a pool of blood . at the very point of her scream and she turn around to be face with the knife wield maniac and who stab her repeatedly in a brutal and horrifying act . then something odd happen . a the woman convulse in her death throe and the killer sit down and take out a cigarette to watch his victim perish . before he find his lighter and his cigarette be light . from someone else in the room . the camera pan out and and we realise that there be more and more people in the room and some take note and some filming and some record the death and and that the lady be take an awfully long time to die and and make a very hammy job of it too . when the audience realise what go on and and the whole scene be part of a film and the suspenseful and horrific scene take on an element of humour . end scene spoiler i have highlight this opening scene for several reason . firstly and it portray the atmosphere of the whole movie perfectly . a thriller in the style of hitchcock or de palma and with some very disorientating and and even blackly humorous moment . it convey a central subject matter ( that of the difference between a amovie screen death and a nuff film death and an issue which be elaborate on later in the film ) and and finally and it introduce the viewer to the character and all as silently a possible . the plot of mute witness centre around billy hughes and an american special effect make up artist who be work on the set of the film and be shoot in a large warehouse in moscow . billy can not speak and but she communicate in sign language through her sister . after the end of an evening filming and billy inadvertently find herself lock in the warehouse by accident and and in her attempt to escape and be witness to two of the crew make what first appear to be a porno film and but turn out to be a snuff movie . suddenly and her escape from the warehouse be a matter of life and death . without doubt and the first half of the film be powerful and absolutely grip . billy save grace and and her handicap be the fact that she isn not able to utter a sound . ( in fact and in my opinion and one of the best aspect of the film be the fact that it isn not chock full of woman scream ) . there be some utterly disturbing moment and and some superb set piece of real suspense ( the corridoor and and the elevator shaft be perfect example ) . the timing be fluid and and the whole first half be an incredibly satisfy experience in itself . the second half of the film introduce new concept . while there be still several suspenseful moment and the focus be on plot twist . new character be introduce and and it be ambiguous a to whose side they be on . while there be nothing wrong per se with the second half of the film and it just doesn not quite measure up to the first half . there be some neat moment of black humour that perfectly juxtapose and punctuate some very dramatic scene and but there be also some very lame comedy moment ( come specifically from billy sister and her fiancée and who happen to be the director of the movie billy be work on ) and that almost ruin the film and just because they be badly misplace and or or mistime and ruin the pace . at the end and the twist keep come at a rapid fire speed and and the climax of the film be and appropriately and as tense a the first half . there be several thing that really make the movie work . the barrier of communication that billy must face and both a a mute and and a an american in moscow and mean that even an emergency call for help become a dangerous situation . the actress that play billy and natasha zudina and do a wonderful job in the film and with an engage on screen prescence and and a brilliant performance and and finally and the direction a a whole and but most particularly in the first half of the film and which truly be a study in alfred hitchcock suspense or thriller film technique . a i have already say and though and the let down in the film be from some terrible comic relief moment that really do not need to be add . there be already a consistent and effective streak of dark humour that appear in the film without the need for the character of karen hughes and andy clarke ( the sister and the moviemaker ) to turn their scene into some unusual sit com . however and despite these shortcoming and the film be a thoroughly enjoyable thriller and and ideal for a group view at halloween . ( certainly well than the usual slasher horror film . ) .