WHAT WE’RE WATCHING: The Whisper Man: An adequate Netflix thriller boosted by Robert De Niro performance
A middling but entertaining Netflix thriller, The Whisper Man follows a father‑son hunt for a kidnapper.
The Whisper Man is a middling yet entertaining Netflix thriller that boasts a solid performance by Robert De Niro. The film follows a father-son duo as they search for a kidnapper. British author Alex North's 2019 thriller, The Whisper Man, had already been optioned by high-profile producers, including the Russo brothers, before the book was even published. With American producers leading the project, the story shifts from the UK to the United States.
Tom Kennedy, a crime novelist played by Adam Scott, moves to his hometown of Gareton, New Jersey, after the death of his wife. His eight-year-old son, Jake, is traumatized after finding his mother's body when returning from school. This move coincides with the abduction of a young boy, reminiscent of a series of murders that took place in Gareton 25 years prior.
Detective Amanda Beck, played by Michelle Monaghan, calls upon the help of retired cop Pete Willis, played by Robert De Niro. Willis, responsible for catching the infamous "Whisper Man" in the past, is tasked with finding the new perpetrator, who is believed to be a copycat or an accomplice. At first, Willis is reluctant to get involved, but Jake's abduction forces him to take part in the hunt. Kennedy, who has changed his surname due to his father's obsession with Carter, joins the effort.
Comparisons to The Silence of the Lambs are inevitable, but The Whisper Man still manages to provide an entertaining and intriguing thriller. While it may not linger in viewers' memories, the film holds attention throughout with a solid cast, including De Niro, who brings gravitas to his scenes. However, the movie may fall short of the classic cop-vs-serial-killer genre, and its pacing can feel rushed with a few coincidences stretching credulity.
James Ashcroft, known for Midnight Mass and other works, directs the film with capable efficiency. While he manages to ramp up the tension and sense of danger in the finale, the overall premise may not have been turned into something truly nerve-shredding by a brilliant filmmaker. Overall, The Whisper Man is a decent suspense film for an undemanding viewer seeking distraction for a few hours.
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