I watched Netflix’s new crime thriller movie with Robert De Niro, and it gives major ‘Silence of the Lambs’ vibes
“The Whisper Man” sees a widowed crime writer turns to his estranged retired-detective father for help after his young son is abducted.
Netflix has released a new crime thriller called “The Whisper Man” this winter, which brings to mind the classic film “Silence of the Lambs.” As someone who loves that old movie, I was immediately drawn to it. Directed by James Ashcroft, this dark thriller from the ’90s brings back feelings of paranoia usually seen in movies like “Zodiac” or “Seven.”
Tom’s review gave it a rating of 3.5/5 stars, calling it a solid, atmospheric thriller with a strong performance by Adam Scott. Despite its underwhelming second half and lack of originality, “The Whisper Man” still has enough charm and thrilling moments to keep you engaged. The story revolves around widowed crime writer Tom Kennedy, played by Adam Scott, whose young son gets kidnapped.
He then reaches out to his estranged father, retired detective Peter Willis, played by Robert De Niro, for help. The kidnapping leads Tom and Peter to investigate a connection to a decades-old case involving a serial killer known as the Whisper Man, whom Peter had previously arrested. Michelle Monaghan plays Detective Amanda Beck, who is also on the case.
The film’s biggest strength is its homage to classic thrillers like “The Silence of the Lambs” and “Zodiac,” without directly copying their plots. It starts with detectives finding the body of a victim connected to the Whisper Man, setting up a dark, mysterious tone. The story follows the family—Tom and his son Jake moving to Tom's hometown—while introducing an intriguing, unnamed woman in a blue sweater who may be connected to the story.
The film quickly grabs your attention with its suspenseful exploration of the Whisper Man's identity and the dangers he poses to young boys. While the film has its share of thrilling moments, it struggles to maintain suspense in the second half, especially when the killer starts interacting with his latest victim. The climax feels quite underwhelming and doesn’t fully answer some key questions.
Despite its shortcomings, “The Whisper Man” succeeds in being a visually and audibly engaging movie that channels the spirit of ’90s thrillers. Adam Scott truly shines as the central character, carrying the movie with his strong performance. In the end, the film leaves you with a sense of potential left unfulfilled, but it’s still an intriguing watch for fans of crime thrillers.
Written by urgent.news from Tom's Guide's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
