A misfit group of unwitting high school students stumble upon a cursed object, an ancient Aztec Death Whistle. They discover that blowing the whistle and the terrifying sound it emits will summon their future deaths to hunt them down.
Chuck says:
A standard horror film from start to finish, Corin Hardy’s “Whistle” benefits from a game cast, dynamic cinematography and a third act that contains some clever narrative switchbacks. Despite taking its cue from the “Final Destination” franchise and numerous other teen-centric shockers, the film still manages to maintain our interest, thanks in large part to Hardy’s inventive visual approach and a pace that doesn’t allow the viewer to catch its breath, let alone question the logic of all that’s occurring.
It’s obvious Chrys Willet (Dafne Keen) is carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders as she walks into her new high school. Her stark appearance and steely demeanor make her a prime target for bullies, arrogant football star Dean (Jhaleil Swaby) picking at her from the start. That she’s been assigned the locker that belonged to his former teammate, Horse (Stephen Kalyn), who died under mysterious circumstances, doesn’t help. Compounding her troubles is the discovery of an odd totem in the locker, which is ultimately identified as an Aztec Death Whistle by her history teacher, Mr. Craven (Nick Frost).
Together for a pool party, Grace (Ali Skovbye), on impulse, blows the whistle in the presence of Chrys, Dean, Ellie (Sophie Nelisse), Rel (Sky Yang) and Tanner (Mika Amonsen). Little do they know, they’ve activated a curse, the sound from the talisman serving as a guide for Death, which then sets out to find you long before you’re supposed to take the big sleep. When found, you transform into the person you will be at the time of your death, as Grace does when she goes from being 18 to a wizened 80-year-old woman in an instance.
As in the “Destination” films, the grim fates that await the disposable teens from central casting are shocking, elaborate and gruesome. Credit screenwriter Owen Egerton for adding an intriguing wrinkle as each victim gets a vision of their death, prompting them to go out of their way to avoid these circumstances. Of course, by doing so, they unwittingly set in motion a series of events that leads to their demise. The ironic incidents that result make for some inspired, darkly humorous moments.
The young cast does a fine job, enlivening the typical teen histrionics with a bit of humor along the way, while Keen and Nelisse prove to be the movie’s secret weapons. Once their characters find a loophole that may save them, the actresses kick things into high gear, bringing an urgency to their roles that, at least during the last 20 minutes, elevates the film, making it far better than it has a right to be.
Two inspired, last-minute twists end things on a high note, setting things up for a sequel that, if it comes to be, would push the premise to interesting extremes. For now, “Whistle” serves as a competent genre entry that will hopefully be used as a jumping off point for a potentially entertaining franchise.
2 1/2 Stars
