The Dummy Detective

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Frank M @RT31474237 Jul 10 A witty, inventive comedy that seemingly without effort manages to sell its wacky premise. In the same vein as 1985's Clue and 2019's Knives Out, The Dummy Detective takes all of the tropes of film noir and murder mysteries and turn them completely on their cliched heads. The setting is an odd, eerie inn run by a one 'Harriet Hubbard,' played by Sean Young. Of course - murder! Onto the scene comes 'Detective Van Trillo,' played by real-life ventriloquist Jonathan Geffner, who wrote the screenplay and makes his feature film debut. The detective has his wooden mannequin as his sidekick, and things only get weirder from there. The fine cast has undeniable chemistry and a shared spirit of enjoyment in the story they all take part in telling. For as fun and as charming as this creative story is, a film with such an offbeat premise is probably a hard sell. It must have felt like a risk to invest in this production. But it was one risk certainly worth taking. See more skorpio S @RT74768751 Jul 2 The dummy detective does not disappoint. You have drama, mystery,great acting from wooden dummies and very impressive ventriloquism! The actors and actresses are believable and I really love the story telling! The character arcs of the dummies are each unique and the plot is good! Definitely one of a kind movie! Will definitely rewatch! See more Joe G @RT18910915 Jun 2 OMG I LOVED this movie. Writer, star and veteran ventriloquist Jonathan Geffner clearly put his heart, soul and guts into this script, which is a take off on classic film noir and classic mysteries. Think Who Framed Roger Rabbit. And (yes!) at the end there's a great twist ending which explains it all after the story cast suspicions on different characters via Agatha Christie-like misdirection. This film is fun but decidedly not silly: although it has laughs there's an underlying theme of loneliness. The Dummy Detective is about detective Van Trillo who goes almost everywhere with his wooden dummy Sam Suade who is both verrrry observant and provides lots of laughs. Sean Young (who was in Blade Runner) and Deborah Twiss (Co-Producer and female lead) round out a great cast. I'm also a ventriloquist and enjoyed the ventriloquism related jokes and watching Geffner work his "magic." Bravo to Director Rob Margolis and to Clifford J. Tasner's score which bolsters the story. See more terry M @motleypr May 26 A throwback to vintage entertainment with some modern twists. Very funny & creative See more SIMONE R @CULT7ARTE May 20 The Dummy Detective turns the classic murder mystery into something eccentric, stylish, and surprisingly dark. Set inside a creepy inn full of suspicious guests, the film embraces the classic whodunit structure while mixing noir aesthetics with absurd humor. There are clear influences from Knives Out, the novels of Agatha Christie, and Clue, but it never feels like imitation. The exaggerated performances and theatrical atmosphere are part of the film’s charm, creating a world where every character feels suspicious. The soundtrack effectively balances tension and dark comedy, while the relationship between the detective and his wooden dummy adds an unexpected emotional core. Beneath the absurdity lies a story about trauma, guilt, and unresolved pain. Stylized, strange, and self-aware, The Dummy Detective manages to turn caricature into personality. See more Charles M @cmallory May 12 The Dummy Detective pays homage to the neo-noir detective genre while blending the ensemble mystery elements of Clue and Knives Out with an unusual twist. The detective at the center of the story, Van Trillo (Jonathan Geffner), is both a cynical private investigator and a ventriloquist whose dummy, Sam Suede, serves as his sidekick. Director Rob Margolies successfully recreates the shadowy atmosphere associated with classic noir films, and Geffner convincingly balances Trillo’s hard-boiled cynicism with the film’s absurd comedic premise. What ultimately sets The Dummy Detective apart from other murder mysteries is its commitment to the ventriloquist concept. The dummies are treated as fully realized characters. This surreal approach gives the film much of its humor while also reinforcing its quirky, offbeat identity. By combining noir conventions with dark humor and an inventive premise, The Dummy Detective delivers a murder mystery that feels both familiar and refreshingly unusual. See more Read all reviews

The Dummy Detective

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