Dynamite deaths save familiar frights, with leading lady Dafne Keen putting in a mournful display.
Ah, the old cursed object causing havoc staple rears its fearsome head once again.
This time it’s an ancient Aztec whistle that plagues a group of high school students as they discover that blowing it will summon their future deaths to hunt them down.
English filmmaker Corin Hardy started down the right horror path with 2015’s haunting The Hallow – but took a serious wrong turn with The Nun (2018).
Whistle falls somewhere in between those outings as Owen Egerton’s ( Follow , Mercy Black ) script adds more depth than you’d expect from this kind of genre fare.
Not least with Dafne Keen’s leading lady Chrys and her dark past that bleeds into her present as she struggles with life at a new school and her crush on the likeable Ellie (Sophie Nélisse).
Thought has clearly also went into the film’s deaths, and their execution, which results in some of the most original and indelible demises in recent modern horror.
The kills start relatively run-of-the-mill but when it becomes clear what is happening to the titular object’s victims, Hardy cuts loose with mangled bodies and an abundance of blood.
READ MORE: MOVIE REVIEW: Is ‘Scream 7’ a worthy entry in horror franchise?
The fact the deaths left such a strong impression despite being very CGI-heavy – something I’m not normally a fan of – speaks volumes about their wicked innovation.
Shaun of the Dead’s Nick Frost pops up in a notable cameo as teacher Mr Craven – perhaps a nod from Hardy to late genre legend Wes Craven?
The whistle’s powers are inconsistent, though, especially when it comes to time-keeping as some victims are bumped off way quicker than others.
There’s also the token visit to someone already impacted by the curse to get more information and anyone who has seen Final Destination , Smile and Talk To Me will often get a sense of deja-vu.
But the dynamite deaths and mournful turn from Keen see Whistle hit enough right notes to warrant a watch.
However, I’m not sure the larger scale sequel-baiting post-credit scene will be music to horror fans’ ears.
● Pop me an email at ian.bunting@reachplc.com and I will pass on any movie or TV show recommendations you have to your fellow readers.
Claire Pearson got in touch to say: “Vanished on Amazon Prime is a really good mystery.
“Kaley Cuoco and Sam Claflin play off each other really well.”
● Whistle is showing in cinemas now.
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