When a psychiatrist's daughter is abducted, the kidnapper's only demand is for a scrap of knowledge that the doctor's latest patient apparently possesses. The problem is, the patient in question is a mentally unstable woman who is near catatonic and prone to violent outbursts.

That's the gist, wherein the entire plot runs and how it runs! There is not a momentary break in this psychological thriller - not for Dr. Nathan Conrad (Michael Douglas) his family, for Elisabeth (Brittany Murphy) the victim/ patient and cop Sandra Cassidy (Jennifer Esposito). The chain that binds them all in one terrible silence is the revenge and greed of one villainous Koster (Sean Bean) and his gang of killers.

The film is not different from scores of others especially Michael Douglas ones, where he excels as an undercover cop, detective or a medical expert - forensic most of the times. Here he gives a good performance as the much-harangued psychiatrist, there are no sex scenes too (a singular departing from his other regulars), amazing as it sounds. Here he deftly handles an omelet as he does Elisabeth, an art by itself, whereas Brittany herself has given no mean performance, quite on par with the veteran one might say! The other person who deserves mention is Sean Bean, since he is in the frame from first to last with the mentioned two. He makes a good-looking villain, not so terrifying as to give goose pimples, but rest aside, he is a villain right to the end, and merits a death as awesome as the ones he gives his victims.

The women actors have not too much of role here except in one minute frames which of course excludes Brittany, while Fammke Jensen as Mrs. Conrad is terribly melodramatic right from the onset, good thing she is tied to the bed and has to keep her mouth shut too! There is one thing that needs be cleared, why do all horrible things happen only in the dark? Directors Inc., dark is beautiful, give us more light on the subject you film instead. By the way, this is a general reference and not for Don't Say A Word.

While, the while, for us viewers we can get in the mood of the flick - crime, horror or plain psycho thrillers without everything being dark and all shadowed. It's hard enough concentrating on the content, since the action is way too much. Example, in this flick, Conrad is given exactly five hours to unlock the memories (esp numbers) from a psychotic 18 yr old girl, predated when she was eight. What the goons have not been able to achieve in 10 years time, he is supposed to do it in quarter of a day?

A predictable ending, the word is about spreading the screenplay thin. There is no narrative flow, only technique and the movie ends, clichéd as it comes.

Poor : *
Strictly OK : * *
Average : * * *
Good : * * * *
Excellent : * * * * *