“Dawn of the Deaf” Short Film Review

*WARNING: SPOILERS*

As of late, the media is utilizing deaf actors and sign language in films, television, even music. A short film, directed by Rob Savage and released in 2016, took on using deaf actors, placing their characters in a world where the hearing population suddenly dies and rises from the dead in a matter of moments, causing them to be the only survivours of a strange noise plague.

The film begins one hour before “The Pulse”, in London on May 7 at 9:00 am. Sam, a sullen-looking deaf teenager, sits at breakfast with her father and mother, the former of whom only knows sign language; Imogen and Nat are a deaf lesbian couple, who appear to be at a crossroad with one another, as it appears Imogen is still in the closet and Nat is angry and feels like she is being kept secret; Kevin Fisher, a deaf man, receives a Community Spirit award before his hearing wife Claire and a cheering crowd. The film is also inter-spliced with footage of two pranksters running up behind people wearing masks and scaring them, including antagonizing a pair of deaf women.

The film’s climax comes when at the moment the Pulse is about to occur, it is revealed Sam’s father has been molesting her and is attempting to sexually assault her, Nat and Imogen have a heated argument about their relationship, and Kevin is receiving applause. Suddenly, an ear splitting noise breaks out, causing every hearing person immense pain and terror. The noise causes Sam’s hearing father to stop what he is doing, allowing Sam to stab him in self-defence, Kevin to become startled at the sight of the room cowering in pain, and Imogen kisses Nat in public for the first time as sign of good faith. One the noise ceases, the dead begin to rise. Kevin dies after being attacked by his wife and the crowd, Sam’s father starts to rise as she is huddled with her back facing his body, and Imogen and Nat look bewildered as the dead in the subway tunnel arise before them. The pranksters who are scaring people are also killed and rise, the camera capturing this moment.

The film itself did exactly what it was intended, scare the ever living daylights out of me! It is rare I feel fear from a film, but this did exactly that. However, it was not just the concept of hearing people being eliminated by noise and then becoming zombies. It was the very real situations the characters have and are facing; Kevin was receiving an award and in his speech mentioned fearing using his speaking voice due to bullying, then to have his wife die right in front of him; Sam’s molestation and attempted rape were horrifying to witness, and Imogen and Nat’s relationship coming to a very aggressive head was heartbreaking.

Overall, the film was well made and left me wanting to see more (though I am not sure if the festival version is longer than what is available online). If you are interesting in viewing the film, it is available at https://vimeo.com/221591368?from=outro-embed. This film does contain images of sexual assault, blood, violence, and gore so be warned before viewing.