''Do Not Disturb'', also known as ''Silent Witness'', is a 1999 English-language Dutch-German

mystery film A mystery film is a film that revolves around the solution of a problem or a crime. It focuses on the efforts of the detective, private investigator or amateur Detective, sleuth to solve the mysterious circumstances of an issue by means of clues, ...

directed, written, produced and composed by

Dick Maas Dirk Herman Willem Maas (Dick) (born 15 April 1951) is a Dutch film director, screenwriter, film producer and film composer. Career Maas achieved fame after the success of his music videos for the Dutch band Golden Earring, including "Twilight Z ...

. Maas produced it with Laurens Geels. The English-language film stars

William Hurt William McChord Hurt (March 20, 1950 – March 13, 2022) was an American actor. For his performances on stage and screen, he received various awards including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and a Cannes Film Festival Award for B ...

Jennifer Tilly Jennifer Tilly (born Jennifer Ellen Chan; September 16, 1958) is an American-Canadian actress and professional poker player. Known for her distinctive breathy voice and comedic timing, she is the recipient of a Saturn Award, and a GLAAD Award, ...

and

Denis Leary Denis Colin Leary (born August 18, 1957) is an American stand-up comedian and actor. Born in Massachusetts, he first came to prominence as a stand-up comedian, especially through appearances on MTV (including the comedic song " Asshole") and th ...

Plot

American pharmaceutical executive Walter Richmond (

) takes a business trip to Amsterdam, accompanied by his wife Cathryn (

) and their 10-year-old daughter Melissa ( Francesca Brown), who has been mute ever since an accident years before. To communicate, Melissa wears a small magic marker board around her neck. Melissa makes a trip to the ladies' room at the hotel De L'Europe and gets separated from her parents. She wanders out of the hotel and onto the street, where Melissa witnesses the execution of Simon Van der Molen (

David Gwillim David Gwillim (born 15 December 1948) is an English actor, known for playing Prince Hal in the ''BBC Television Shakespeare'' adaptations of ''Henry IV, Part I'' and '' Henry IV, Part II'' and the title role in ''Henry V'' which were broadcast i ...

), the attorney representing Walter's Dutch client. Melissa is spotted by the killers — hit man Bruno Decker ( Corey Johnson) and his employer, Rudolph Hartman (

Michael Chiklis Michael Charles Chiklis (; born August 30, 1963) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Detective Vic Mackey on the FX police drama ''The Shield'' (2002–2008), for which he won the Primet ...

), who turns out to be Walter's client. Hartman had Van Der Molen killed to prevent Van Der Molen from revealing the side effects of Hartman's new medication, which he's marketing to Walter's firm. If Van Der Molen would have told Walter about the side effects, Walter would have declined the medication, and Hartman would have been out of a chance to make a lot of money. Melissa finds temporary refuge with a homeless man named Simon (

), then eludes Hartman by stealing a police car, which she promptly smashes into a bistro because she doesn't know how to drive. Melissa is reunited with her parents at the hotel, but Walter innocently reveals to Hartman his daughter's recent adventures and whereabouts. Hartman tells Decker where Melissa is, and Decker pursues her from her room, down an elevator shaft, and into the suite of rock star Billy Boy Manson, an obvious parody of

Marilyn Manson Brian Hugh Warner (born January 5, 1969), known professionally as Marilyn Manson, is an American rock musician. He is the lead singer and the only original member remaining of the Marilyn Manson (band), same-titled band he founded in 1989. Th ...

, ( Michael A. Goorjian), who tries to sexually assault Melissa. But before Manson can do anything to Melissa, Decker arrives and kills Manson for getting in his way. Having escaped Billy Boy's clutches, Melissa eludes Decker by climbing out onto a ledge and plunging into the canal below. But Melissa isn't even safe in an ambulance: after Decker is killed, Hartman carjacks the ambulance and drives off. Melissa is rescued, and Hartman is killed when the ambulance crashes.

Cast

as Walter Richmond *

as Cathryn Richmond *

as Simon * Francesca Brown as Melissa Richmond *

as Rudolph Hartman * Corey Johnson as Bruno Decker *

Jason Merrells Jason Scott Merrells is an English actor, known for his roles in ''Casualty'', '' Queer as Folk'', ''Cutting It'', '' Waterloo Road'' and ''Emmerdale''. Early life and education Merrells was born in Epping, Essex. His brother Simon Merrells ...

as Chris Mulder * Michael A. Goorjian as Billy Boy Manson *

as Simon Van der Molen

Reception

Hans Beerekamp of ''

NRC Handelsblad ''NRC'', previously called ' (), is a daily morning newspaper published in the Netherlands by Mediahuis NRC. It is widely regarded as a newspaper of record in the country. History was first published on 1 October 1970 after a merger of the Amst ...

'' gave the film a positive review and writes thet the film is "superbly written, impeccably acted, black comedy juggling prejudice, which for a Dutch audience also contains a number of double-bottoms".

References

External links

* * * 1999 films 1990s horror thriller films Dutch horror thriller films Films directed by Dick Maas Films with screenplays by Dick Maas Films produced by Dick Maas Films scored by Dick Maas First Floor Features films Buena Vista International films Films set in the Netherlands English-language Dutch films Films set in hotels 1990s English-language films English-language horror thriller films {{1990s-horror-film-stub