The Dummy Detective

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The Dummy Detective

2025

1h 29m

Comedy

Crime

Mystery & Thriller

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6 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

In the spirit of Clue and Knives Out, THE DUMMY DETECTIVE follows Detective Van Trillo, a real-life ventriloquist, and his wooden partner as they investigate a string of bizarre murders inside a secluded inn filled with eccentric guests.

Ethan Padgett

Film Threat

5d

8.5/10

Anyone who loves a good mystery and the crime genre will be thoroughly entertained by The Dummy Detective.

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Dec 21

3.0/4.0

Don't be a dummy. Check out The Dummy Detective.

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Tim Brennan

About Boulder

Dec 15

If you’re making a movie about a ventriloquist detective, you need to be prepared to go to some strange places. What we’re left with is a screenplay that promises something much weirder than it actually delivers.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Dec 12

4/5

…with Sean Young leading a committed ensemble cast and a traditional whodunnit structure, The Dummy Detective is easy to watch and fun to try and guess where the story is going; the ventriloquism angle is fresh and adds novelty to ancient conceits…

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Amanda Mazzillo

Film Joy

Dec 4

The Dummy Detective is filled to the brim with jokes, delightful absurdity, and surprising twists. If a detective comedy starring a ventriloquist with his dummy as partner sounds like a fun time, you definitely should check out The Dummy Detective.

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Daniel M. Kimmel

North Shore Movies

Nov 23

2.5/5

The makers of THE DUMMY DETECTIVE are asking a lot. It’s a comedy that crosses a hardboiled film noir detective story with an Agatha Christie-like mystery. And ventriloquist dummies. You either have to accept it or not.

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Ken H

@swpupp 2d

Wonderful film! Well acted and brilliant cast. Nice dark comedy Strongly recommended! - Ken

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Jason B

3d

Really enjoyed it. Well done. Both funny and clever!

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BEATTY C

@Beatty1948 Jan 3

Loved Loved Loved it!!!!!

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Serena A

@Serena798 Jan 2

The Dummy Detective is a brilliant blend of Film Noir, dark comedy, and a classic whodunnit. The acting and ventriloquism are top-notch! I was so immersed I wished it had gone on longer; the ending wasn't what I predicted, but it was a very clever, intentional subversion. Highly recommended! Serena

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HB H

@Pittsburghkid Jan 1

Enter into the World of Film Noir with The Dummy Detective which had a bit of everything: originality, light and dark comedy, who don it murder mystery plot of course, and was well acted and ventriloquized. I was hoping it would go on longer before it ended, but not like I thought it was going to, which was the intention.

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Regina S

@Phoebeursula Jan 1

A refreshingly original take on the murder mystery genre. I never saw a movie with a ventriloquist detective before. Very suspenseful and funny with great characters. I hope they do a sequel.

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Rob Margolies

Director

Sean Young

Actor

Jonathan Geffner

Actor

Deborah Twiss

Actor

Ed Altman

Actor

Kristin Samuelson

Actor

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Synopsis

In the spirit of Clue and Knives Out, THE DUMMY DETECTIVE follows Detective Van Trillo, a real-life ventriloquist, and his wooden partner as they investigate a string of bizarre murders inside a secluded inn filled with eccentric guests.

Director: Rob Margolies
Producer: Rob Margolies
Screenwriter: Jonathan Geffner
Distributor: Filmhub
Production Co: Different Duck Films
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 18, 2025
Runtime: 1h 29m

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