Director Tammi Sutton (Killjoy 2: Deliverance from Evil (2002)) brings forth a story involving a haunted house, shot in Chulmleigh Village, UK, though not quite a horror tale as it incorporates dark dramatic sequences. Herein again Tammi takes the bold initiative to create a new angle within the genre, setting storyline plagued with tragic consequences and running them into supernatural elements. This all occurs in Whispers a movie that needs your attention for the entire 90-minutes, no dosing off and stay off the phone for this flick released from MTI Home Video. Before one tries to dismiss the film because of the non-traditional horror approach, understand the genre itself often crossovers between suspense and drama, these aspects help create tension and set the tone, but the viewer needs to understand that a few clichés do occur but the story stands well itself.
Young Catherine Caldwell’s (Lilja Johnson) childhood plagued hideous problems leaving her with so many emotional scars, which could challenge Dr. Phil, she witnesses much turmoil and heartache along with apparition torment. The movie transitions to present day with Catherine (Keeley Hazell) and her husband Harvey (Craig Rees) trying regain their love for each other after the death of their daughter Lilly (Leyla Gellan) died. A series of flashbacks show insights to their lives and how they deal with marriage counseling with the intent to retreat and recoup but the paranormal encounter doesn’t like their plans. Meanwhile, Hazell portrays a grieving mother full of emotional conflicts grasping at the final straw of reality, while Rees might be perceived as standoffish, more likely unsure of what to do, how to mourn and yet stay strong and positive for his wife. Sutton who penned the script gives the two primary actors a positive foundation to build from, and conveys to the audience the pain and suffering of losing one’s child, a tough and likely inconceivable an action no parent wants to visit upon them or truly anyone. The ghostly apparition also plays more than the standard bump in the night, or exaggerated manifestation of itself, rather appearing in surfaces that can cast a reflection to objects moving. All of it adding to suspenseful moments and tight tension, a dark winding path for characters and viewers to equal travel as well as learning secrets to a mystery awaiting the proper reveal. Then subtle pain inflicted emotionally perhaps spiritual by a charming and bit cunning Sasha (Barbara Nedeljakova) and Simon (Phil Bloomberg) to Catherine sends unnerving chills, some anger, and more grief. One must look for three horror cameos from Actress Lynn Lowry as Elizabeth Connelly, a very emotionally withdrawn woman, along with Elissa Dowling as The Doll and Elieen Dietz, whom many recall as a demon in The Exorcist (1973) stars only in the trailer, her main scenes sadly cut from the film. ‘Whispers’ itself generates a solid finale, bundling all of the anguish, spiritual scars and emotional pain laced over a supernatural tale.
As with many low budget films, the cracks show through a little bit, but Sutton works with some very good camerawork, to overlap these issues concerning the sound. The sound suffers tremendously and tests the audience patience, in the first act, and seems smoother through the rest of the movie as well as the CGI; it feels disjointed never quite blending throughout the movie. If you saw the film entitled Conjurer (2008) from director Clint Hutchison one might notice similar story links of a couple moving to the countryside for an escape of the child’s death, however it this storyline often used in horror movies, but this time executed fairly well.
The average horror fans should take the time to investigate the haunted tension tales in Whispers, noting not the typical jump scare story, as the suspense ratchets up the movie to a refreshing pace.
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IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
Baron’s Rating: 6/10