Silent As The Grave: Review

12th November 2023

It’s 1960, it’s Christmas time and everyone’s getting ready to spend some quality time with their families. Edgar Nowak is no different, a young baker with his whole life ahead of him, but sadly that was struck tragically short by an unknown assailant.

In the present day, Chris Nowak (Michael Kunicki), Edgar’s nephew is a documentary maker with an interest in the noir. Being inspired by the mystery surrounding his uncle’s death, Chris decides to investigate, something particularly spurred on by the time of year where the family remember their loss. Chris does some research and makes some calls, but soon his inquisitive nature lands him and his wife, Naomi (Isabella Alonso) in grave danger.

Silent as The Grave is a modern-day noir inspired thriller co-directed by Dan Gremley and Brad Podowski who also wrote the screenplay. Heavily inspired by the noir genre, directors Gremley and Podowski show that it still has relevance today by simultaneously updating and paying homage to it.

Chris’ investigation takes him deeper into the mysterious depths of his uncle’s murder and as with all good noir thrillers, the deeper he goes then the more he uncovers. However, also like all good noir thrillers, Silent as The Grave also keeps its audience intrigued and guessing right up until the final act.

Where there would have been trench coats and dangerous women, there are smartphones and expectant mothers, not to mention a few supporting characters who would have remembered the finer details of Edgar’s demise. This leads Chris’ personal journey to uncover the truth down a familiar direction for noir, but it also doesn’t feel all that unrealistic to what could happen today.

All the cast do well and Kunicki’s performance may not be the heroic protagonist who stares death in the face at every corner, but he makes for a good everyman which the audience can support.

Fans of the noir genre will have fun with Silent as The Grave as they spot the usual cliches and tropes brought right up to date. However, even those with a passing knowledge will see the potential of a genre perhaps long forgotten to cinema.

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