David Cotner delves into the world of ventriloquists at the premiere of Dumbstruck, Mark Goffman's documentary about five “vents,” as they call each other, in the Considerable Town column in this week's print edition.

One of the five is Terry Fator, the America's Got Talent winner who now has a $100 million gig playing the Mirage in Las Vegas. There's also Wilma Swartz and her ostrich puppet Sandy Twinkletoes, former Miss Ohio Kim Yeager and 13-year-old Dylan Burdette and his dummy Reggie.

“Centering on the annual Vent Haven Convention in Fort Mitchell, Ky.,” Cotner writes, “the film is compelling, essential car-crash viewing, which is to say that it's like watching a car crash in which you care deeply about everyone in the cars.”

The film doesn't open until May 20, but until then you can read our story: “Ventriloquists Staying Alive, Keeping the Faith.”

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.