By Hannah Bower; Photo Credits to Hannah Bower
If you’re a fan of “The Silence of the Lambs” or “The Black Phone”, “The Whisper Man” should be your next watch. Directed by James Ashcroft and based on Alex North’s bestselling book, this crime drama explores the terrifying reality of a serial killer’s return to a suburban neighborhood.
Frank Carter terrorized families for years in the past, luring kids out of their homes by whispering at their window. Days later, they were found dead in the woods. Now that he’s supposedly in prison for life, authorities are shaken when children start to go missing once more and recordings of their voices are mailed in. Tom and his son Jake recently moved in, with Jake still recovering from the loss of his mother. He frequently speaks of seeing “the girl in the blue sweater,” to which Tom becomes increasingly frustrated. But when Jake goes missing after hearing whispers at night, Tom is forced to consult his absent father Pete, the detective who caught Frank Carter.
Tapes of Jake are received in the mail, so Tom knows he doesn’t have much time. Pete has no other choice but to visit Frank in prison and interview him, needing to know who might be copying his methods. As for Jake, the girl in the blue sweater and the boy in the floor might be his only hope of being saved.
As someone who always argues that the book is better, I’m pleased to say that this film did not disappoint. Each character’s desperation felt very real, specifically Tom’s. Throughout the movie, we can see his guilt eating away at him, and now that both his son and wife are gone, he tries to avoid reconciling with his father.
Michael Keaton as Frank Carter was perfectly cast. He was subtle, almost conversational in tone, contrasting with his sadistic nature. Jake was a very sympathetic character, much like his father. He is targeted because of his loneliness and imagination, isolating him and making him vulnerable.
One thing I wish the film would’ve leaned into more is telling the story from Jake’s perspective. Other characters had more screen time, but telling the story through Jake’s eyes would’ve done the book a bit more justice.
Overall, “The Whisper Man” is a perfect suspenseful thriller for this Halloween. Combining psychological unease with emotional attachment, this story made a resurgence for a reason.