The Silencing (2020) - full transcript

A reformed hunter living in isolation on a wildlife sanctuary becomes involved in a deadly game of cat and mouse when he and the local Sheriff set out to track a vicious killer who may have kidnapped his daughter years ago.

That's mine.

Well, I saw it first, shithead.

Well, actually,

the deer's mine.

And you two shitheads

are trespassing.

Come on, Rayburn.

You ain't going to miss

one buck.

It's a goddamn zoo

around here.

Well, that's the point.

This is a sanctuary,

you dumbshit.

Now, put down your rifles.

Okay.

Rayburn Swanson

is a goddamn tree hugger.

Who'd have thought?

Well, people change.

No, they don't.

You can pick up

your guns later.

Don't let me catch you

here again, all right?

Don't suppose you boys

could give me a jump?

Hey, Thor.

How you doing, huh?

Are you tired?

Any more activity?

Weren't you supposed

to do the dishes?

A defunct paper

mill on Sawbill Reservation

is now ground zero

for the war on drugs.

The locals call it

the Factory.

Sawbill Nation unanimously

voted last night

to condemn the old paper mill

next month.

Karl Blackhawk

is with the tribal police

and has been working

diligently...

Where'd you find him this time?

Over at the Factory.

Attracts trouble

from all sides, Alice.

Trying to clean that place up,

but... losing battle, I guess.

He's got blood on him.

What happened?

According to him, nothin'.

Just tripped.

Any trouble around town

last night?

Don't recall a time

there wasn't, Alice.

Anything involving him?

Not that I know of.

But I wouldn't, uh...

I wouldn't bet on it.

Thanks, Karl.

I'll take him home.

Mm-hm.

I can't keep doing you favors,

Alice.

Sooner or later your brother's

gonna get caught up in something

you won't be able

to get him out of.

Come on. Get out.

What were you doing in that

place last night, Brooks?

None of your business.

You still taking your meds?

Every day.

Can you...?

Can you stop that, please?

Whose blood is that

on your shirt?

Mostly mine.

Sam Moonblood

beat the shit out of me.

What? Why?

A woman.

Why don't you take

the back roads?

What woman, Brooks?

You have any idea

what Moonblood does?

Whatever it is, it's outside

of my jurisdiction.

Him and that creepy fuck Olsen,

they push it all.

Drugs. Gambling.

Whoring.

Were you paying for sex?

Nah.

She wasn't a hooker.

Can you just turn around

and take a different way home?

- No, I need to go this way.

- I don't want to go this way.

I gotta go this way,

I gotta do something.

I don't want to go this

fucking way! Just turn around!

Oh, shit, I...

Shit, I'm sorry, Brooks. I...

I wasn't thinking.

Still think you're cut out

for this?

Don't think I forgot

what day it is.

I'm gonna come by

the motel later.

I'm not sure I'll be around.

Well, I'm gonna

come by anyway.

Unit one-three-one.

Go for one-three-one.

We've got a possible homicide

out on Buck Lake.

Ten-four. I'm on my way.

Oh, shit.

Hey, kids.

Thank you for having us,

Mr. Swanson.

This is a real treat

for the students.

Well, my pleasure, ma'am.

Are you intoxicated?

Don't worry,

the kids won't notice.

Welcome to the Gwen Swanson

Wildlife Sanctuary.

Now, who knows

what a sanctuary is?

No one?

Well, it's a place where no

trapping or hunting's allowed.

A safe haven for animals.

You see this area here?

Look, almost 50 square miles.

That's my sanctuary.

My dad said you've killed

more animals than anyone.

Used some real nasty traps too.

Done my share.

like everyone else around here.

But I stopped all that.

Why?

My daughter didn't like it.

So now, instead of trapping

animals for their fur,

I use humane traps

to catch the problem ones,

and then I release them here,

where they can live

without human threat.

Now, every now and then I...

I do snare kids...

...when they talk out of turn.

Can you turn her over?

The body was dumped

postmortem in the water,

probably a good week ago.

What do you think this about?

Well, I'm not sure,

but I'll make a note.

Get forensics up here.

Sheriff!

You think whoever killed her

was hunting her for sport?

I wouldn't call that a sport,

but, yeah.

She was hunted.

Somebody get a saw

and cut this out.

Jesus. You pregnant?

Aren't you a bit old

for that?

Still have no manners,

huh, Rayburn?

Still got no personality,

eh, Blackhawk?

Got something to talk to you

about.

Well, you better

come inside then.

Not you.

I missed you.

Oh, I missed you.

I don't suppose

you and Blackhawk came here

to pass out cigars.

Uh...

Karl and me want to hold

a funeral for Gwen.

You know, five years

is a long time, Ray.

I don't want to do this

without you.

She's my daughter too.

I know.

I got a say in this,

and I say no.

Ray, don't make this harder.

Well, you can't replace Gwen

with Blackhawk's fuckin' baby.

Hey!

That's not fair.

You think you're the only one

who misses her?

After everything that's

happened, you're still drinking?

Oh, shut up.

It's just a formality.

Just sign it and the court'll issue

an official death certificate.

Listen, we bought a plot,

and it's a really nice place.

Funeral's in two weeks.

Come in.

Wasn't easy,

but we got it out.

You know, there's plenty

of people happy you're sheriff.

You can't please everybody.

Thanks, Hansen.

This just in, breaking news.

We're here at a crime scene

by Buckridge and Echo Falls.

Looks like there is a body

of a young woman here,

and the identity

has not been revealed.

We're trying to get some

interviews with the police,

but it looks like they're

getting ready to move the body.

We'll update you more live

as information

becomes available.

For now, back to you.

You didn't have

to get me anything.

Mm. It's not much.

Where'd you find this?

It was in the storage box

in the attic.

Dad looks so young.

We should, um...

we should talk about what

happened to you in the barn.

No.

I should have adopted you

when Mom and Dad died.

I should have taken you

to Chicago with me.

You didn't know nothin'

about raising a kid.

Yeah, well, I knew more

than those fucking people.

Hey, Alice?

Yeah?

If I messed up and did something

bad, what would you do?

What are you talking about?

If I fucked up and did something

stupid, would you help me out?

Sheriff?

Hold on a sec, all right?

I'm Rayburn Swanson.

I know who you are.

What do you want?

I was told at the station

I could find you here.

I need to see that girl.

She could be my daughter.

I'm kind of in the middle

of something...

Please.

All right, well, we'll finish

this when I get back, okay?

Well?

No.

No.

Fuck.

I saw your brother earlier.

Someone sure did

a number on him.

Hope he didn't give you

any trouble.

I got to be honest,

he has some bad habits.

Some? Jesus Christ.

You know what gets me the most?

Those knuckles.

- Those knuckles fuckin' kill me.

- Yeah.

That and he went through

a six-pack while I examined him.

Just? It's usually a case.

Oh. Doctor,

do you know much about Rayburn?

Do you have kids?

No.

Then you can't begin to imagine

what he's gone through.

Can I join you?

Sure.

Hey, Pete.

Hey, Alice. Long time.

I remember hearing about the

disappearance of your daughter.

Things like that didn't happen

around here.

Yeah, the world's

a shitty place.

It can be.

Well, it was for that girl

you found today.

I've only been sheriff

a couple of months.

I'm still catching up

on active cases.

Yeah, my daughter's case

is far from active.

My training is very different

from the officers around here.

Yeah, I heard.

What do you want?

A chance to prove...

The chance of solving

a missing persons case

after 48 hours is almost zero.

What do you think the chances

are after five goddamn years?

Or didn't they teach you that

in your fancy college?

I'm going to take a leak.

You gonna be here

when I come back?

- You need me to be?

- Not really.

Don't hesitate to call, Rayburn.

- I'm here to help.

- I don't got a phone.

Quiet, Thor.

You ain't getting shit unless

I see something in those...

What the hell?

Thor.

Son of a bitch.

I know you're there, pal.

Just want to talk,

that's all.

This is a sanctuary.

You can't hunt here.

Don't be getting stupid.

Come on.

Oh...

Okay, asshole.

What were you tracking?

Whatever it is,

I'm innocent.

Oh, there's nothing innocent

about you, Jim.

Your parents

would be proud.

Thanks.

You have a minute?

Sure.

You hear about that girl

they found dead

in the boundary waters?

Yeah, you betcha.

Horrible thing.

Was she really hunted,

like the papers said?

What do you think he used?

World's oldest weapon

delivery system.

It's called an atlatl.

Developed over

30,000 years ago.

And people still use these

for hunting?

Maybe some real die-hards,

but it ain't legal.

Clearly you're not

a suspect.

Hold your horses.

A well-made atlatl

can deliver a spear

over 100 miles an hour.

- Jesus.

- Ain't no toy.

It was designed to kill.

Do any members

use an atlatl?

- Not that I know of.

- Where could you buy one?

Well, you're not going to find

it at Walmart, that's for sure.

There's a local fella

you could probably start with.

Sam Moonblood's his name.

Hangs at the Factory

over in Sawbill.

Makes 'em... and he sells 'em.

Thanks.

Careful, Alice,

when you pay him a visit.

He's not too friendly

to your kind.

Women? Or cops?

Both.

Hey.

Yo, bitch! What you want?

You lost...

or looking for your brother?

I have some questions.

That badge don't mean shit

out here, lady.

Is Sam Moonblood around?

He's probably huntin'.

Oh, yeah? Whereabouts?

Shut your cock-hole, Patty.

Does Sam Moonblood use atlatls

when he hunts?

What are you getting at?

We hear things out here too,

you know.

Sam's a lot of things...

but he ain't a killer.

You tell Sam Moonblood

I'm looking for him.

Fucking dick.

Oh, shit.

Moonblood has a place

over in Sawbill.

You'll find him there.

Thank you, Patty.

Look after yourself.

What the...

Hey. Hey.

Hey.

Hold on, hold on,

hold on, hold on, hold on.

Hey, hey, I'm not

gonna hurt you.

I'm not gonna

hurt you, okay?

Listen to me, okay?

Let me help you.

I want to help you.

Okay?

Let me show you.

Please.

It's gonna be a lot warmer

down there out of the wind.

We don't go down there,

we'll freeze.

Please.

Nothing bad's gonna happen.

Here.

Hold this.

Shit.

Goddamn it.

Oh, come on.

No, no, no, no, no.

Oh, no, you got

to be kid...

Oh, no. Shit!

My whiskey.

My ex-wife used to call me

abrasive.

I think I understand

what she meant now.

I'm sorry.

This is a pitfall.

For trapping animals.

This is a real

nasty way to go.

There's a few of these

old traps around,

but I don't use 'em anymore.

Okay...

I'm just going

to put these on you, okay?

Okay, there you go.

Can you talk?

No.

My name's Rayburn.

M...

O...

Molly. Molly.

It's nice to know you, Molly.

Do you know

who that man is?

No?

Try and get

some sleep, okay?

We got a long walk

tomorrow.

It's going to be okay.

Sam Moonblood?

- Freeze!

- Whoa, easy!

It's me, Alice.

Holy shit.

Followed you

and called you in.

Jesus Christ.

Breaking and entering?

It was an urgent matter.

Yeah, well, you need

a warrant, Sheriff.

Probable cause.

Moonblood's tracks

are all over this.

We know that the suspect

used an atlatl,

and he has atlatls

in his fucking basement,

and the spearhead

has an MB on it.

And no one knows

where the hell he is.

Does your brother

own an atlatl?

Young girl missing.

Now, the mother hangs out

at the Factory.

Said she got in an altercation

a few nights back with a man

she named Brooks.

- What are you trying to say?

- He was getting handsy with her.

He wouldn't leave,

so Sam Moonblood tossed him out.

My brother would never

kidnap a young girl.

We never know as much

as we think we do, Alice.

Now, I know your brother

went through some hard times

after your parents passed...

There's nothing wrong

with my brother.

- Then bring him in.

- Are you forgetting who the sheriff is?

There is no sheriff here.

This is Sawbill nation.

We make quite a pair, kid.

My place is southwest of here,

probably six miles.

Hey. Hey, it's me.

Brooks?

I need a break.

It's not much further.

I need a drink.

I bet your mom and dad

will be real happy to see you.

I lost my daughter too.

On my watch.

You know what?

You might...

maybe...

yeah.

Open it.

You recognize her?

Let's go.

Sheriff, copy a call.

My brothers are complaining

Rayburn Swanson confiscated

their rifles.

Can you go check it out?

Take a seat.

Let me get you some water.

Thor?

Who are you?

Who are you?

Rayburn?

Rayburn,

it's Sheriff Gustafson.

I'm here about

those guns you took.

Do you have a moment to talk?

Put your gun down!

I said put your gun down!

- No, no, no, no, no, no, no!

- Put your gun down, goddamn it!

- He's still here. He's here!

- What have you done?

- What have you done?

- What? No, no, no, no, no!

- What have you done?

- Sheriff! Behind you, behind you!

Drop your weapon!

Drop your weapon

and get on your knees!

Now!

Do it now!

- Oh, my God.

- Put your hands on your head, now!

Sheriff.

This man,

he hunted this girl.

You got to be careful.

Sheriff.

Sheriff.

Oh! Oh!

Go, Brooks.

Go home.

Rayburn?

Help!

Hello? Hello?

This is dispatch.

Identify, please.

I need an ambulance at

Rayburn Swanson's immediately.

A girl is hurt real bad.

Rayburn Swanson's.

Karl.

Ray?

What happened?

It's Gustafson.

She fucking shot me.

What? Why?

She's protecting Brooks.

He did it.

We need to get you

to a hospital.

No, no, no.

They'll be looking for me.

I need checkpoints on every road

in and out of this county.

- You hear me?

- Yes. She's coming with you.

What the fuck have I done?

All units, all units.

Be on the lookout

for Rayburn Swanson.

It's okay, just hold on.

No.

Hold on,

we're going to be there soon.

Hang in there, buddy.

I'm sorry.

What?

You're not too old...

to be a mother again.

You deserve it.

I'm sorry I wasn't

a better father.

Just stop. It's okay.

And, Karl,

you're a good man.

You're just saying that because

you think you're dying.

Don't worry, we can go back

to hating each other

after you're all stitched up.

Thanks for coming, Doctor.

I appreciate it.

- Where is he?

- He's over here.

Jesus.

It's the best I could do, doc.

Okay, this is it.

He's here.

This is Dr. Boone.

We met at the morgue.

I hope you don't plan

on taking me there, Doc.

What in the hell

did you get yourself into?

I came across

the wrong kind of man.

Or woman, I guess.

He needs a hospital,

not a fucking RV.

I have emergency supplies,

including blood bags.

Please?

We have no choice, Doc.

I'll see what I can do.

I need some space.

Okay. Yeah.

Okay.

He'll be okay,

all right?

Okay.

Do me a favor,

go back to the car

and lock the doors, okay?

Be careful.

Yeah, this is Blackhawk.

I need backup

at the Factory right now.

Hey.

Can I get some?

Brooks!

Hey, come here!

Brooks! Hey!

Brooks!

Brooks! Stop!

Get back

or I'll fucking kill him.

- Okay. Stay calm.

- Move the cars or I'll kill him.

Hey, take it easy, Brooks.

Let's just think this thing through here.

This isn't just my fault, okay?

I didn't start any of it!

Hey, I understand.

But you have the power

to put an end to this.

So why don't you just put that

down and we'll talk, okay?

Brooks, we're just trying to help

Rayburn here. He's seriously hurt.

You can help him

when we're on the road, okay?

Just move the cars...

Come here.

Put your hands

behind your back.

Hey, hey, hey. Easy. Easy.

Did they find Rayburn?

Your brother's

been arrested.

Hey.

- Where is he?

- Take it easy.

I want to talk to him.

Where is he?

Did you shoot

Rayburn Swanson?

That is an ongoing investigation

in my county.

It has nothing

to do with you.

I want to talk to my fucking

brother, goddamn it.

No. This is not

your county, Alice.

Now, your brother

wants to come clean.

Says he has something

to show us.

Over there.

Shit.

Call a paramedic.

- Who is he?

- Sam Moonblood.

After the altercation

at the Factory,

your brother jumped him

in the parking lot.

Been keeping him here

ever since.

Brooks says he doesn't know

anything about Molly Johnson.

I believe him.

Several eyewitnesses place him

at the Factory

around the same time you

and Rayburn had your encounter.

So whoever was out there

with you, it ain't Brooks.

I'm going to recommend

you be placed on leave

while you're investigated.

We got pics of this already.

I'm sorry, Alice.

I got angry.

But I had nothing

to do with those girls.

Hey.

You know I came back for you?

You know that, right?

Better go, Alice.

Rayburn didn't kill

those girls.

Well,

thanks for saving my life.

I think

you saved mine too.

They got him, right?

What?

Karl says it wasn't Brooks.

He says the timelines

don't match.

Sheriff,

we got a call from Sawbill Reservation.

Blackhawk wants to see you

at the Factory ASAP.

Over and out.

Funny, Rayburn changed

his story.

Said that it was the suspect

that must have shot him.

We all make mistakes.

Yeah.

Let me do the talking, okay?

We got one lead.

Whoever this guy is likely

bought an atlatl from you.

I'm not the only one in America

who makes atlatls.

Who you been selling to

in the past year or so?

Can't be too many.

Look...

I'm really sorry about what

my brother did to you, okay?

He's going to get

what's coming to him.

But right now, there's someone

out there killing teenage girls,

and we need you to talk to us.

I don't got names.

Only faces.

I don't keep receipts,

'cause nobody

returns my atlatls.

Now, if you got mug shots,

maybe I can help you,

but if not,

you're shit out of luck.

That's a good spear.

It's made from pine.

I only use birch.

I don't mark my spears.

I'm sorry, I can't help you.

Thanks for your time.

Can't go one day, Dad?

I'm just going

to get a beer.

Jesus, you're like

your mom.

Should I be like you?

I'll be right back, okay?

I'm going to start walking.

Don't be stupid.

Whiskey.

She's gonna be okay?

We're just

gonna keep an eye on her.

Thank you.

Hi, Molly.

We're going to get you

all better, I promise.

No, I'm just here

to settle my debt.

Hey!

Can I help you?

No.

Nice truck.

I need to see

the autopsy report.

Sorry to bother you.

Yeah?

Is your son home?

No one here but me.

Well, it's just...

last week this guy helped

jump-start my truck.

I could've sworn this was

the truck he was driving.

Just wanted to thank him.

- Sorry about that.

- Oh.

That would've been

my neighbor.

He uses it sometimes.

Lives up the hill there.

Well, thank you, sir.

You betcha.

Dr. Boone left for the day,

but if you'd like to follow me,

the autopsy report

should be in his office.

Great.

This can't be the file.

It has none

of the photo evidence in it.

Oh, I'll keep looking.

Yeah, there have to be more.

Who's this?

Dr. Boone's daughter,

Melissa.

Melissa.

I didn't know

he had a daughter.

Yeah, she was hit

by a drunk driver

and left alone

in the forest to die.

Poor girl.

Melissa.

Melissa Boone.

Open it.

Go upstairs.

Hansen, with me.

Call the paramedics.

Jesus Christ.

We got the APB out on Boone.

You okay?

I have to talk to Rayburn.

Go.

Rayburn?

Rayburn.

I know who took Gwen.

Rayburn.

Rayburn.

Why?

Why Gwen?

I was a good father.

You were a drunk.

She would've grown

into a fuckup,

just like you.

A drain on everyone.

I only took the ones

that no one would miss.

Rayburn, stop! Don't do it.

Please.

This man needs to die

for what he did to my daughter.

Rayburn, don't do this.

Don't do this.

Let me take him in.

Let him rot in jail.

You want to talk to me

about right and wrong, Sheriff?

Now you can either walk away,

or you can shoot me again,

but this ends now.

Get up, get up.

Goddamn it, Rayburn!

I covered this trap years ago.

Realized I didn't like

killing animals.

Rayburn, please.

I'll make an exception for you.

You're going to let me die

like some animal?

No.

I would never leave

an animal suffering.

Now we're even, Sheriff.

In local news,

authorities are still searching

for suspected serial killer

Dr. John Boone,

whose last known whereabouts...

Don't worry, we'll get

this piece of shit.