This New Horror With 'Logan' Star Is a Must-See for Fans of the 'Final Destination' Franchise

The new horror Whistle hit theaters on February 6, offering genre fans a familiar but effective formula: an inexplicable curse, a group of teenagers, and the inevitability of death.

The movie stars Dafne Keen, who is familiar to millions for her role as Laura in Logan, which is a draw in itself. However, the real interest lies in the creators' attempt to blend two completely different traditions.

What Is 'Whistle' About?

The plot revolves around Chrys, a shy goth girl who transfers to a new school following a family tragedy. She finds a strange Aztec whistle in her locker that was left behind by a student who died under mysterious circumstances.

At a party, Chrys and a group of other teenagers decide to blow the whistle, unaware that they are activating an ancient curse.

Soon, students begin dying one by one in bizarre and terrifying ways. Chrys and her new friends must unravel the mystery of the artifact to stop the chain of deaths.

'Whistle' Is a Curious Mix of 1980s Slashers and A24's Elevated Horror Movies

Director Corin Hardy has crafted a film that bridges eras. Whistle features a classic cast of slasher characters, including a bully athlete, a mean beauty queen, and a shy nerd. The first half is imbued with the recognizable tropes of forgotten VHS tapes.

However, psychological drama gradually creeps into Owen Egerton's script. The cursed whistle becomes a powerful metaphor for death itself – inevitable, merciless, and demanding acceptance.

For the main character, who is burdened by the guilt of a loved one's death, this becomes a central internal conflict, explaining her gothic appearance and sense of alienation.

'Whistle' Is Not a Perfect Horror Movie, but It's a Worthy Pick for One Frightening Night

Whistle's greatest strength lies in its visual concept of death. Rather than being haunted by an abstract force or random accidents, each character is haunted by their own version of themselves after death.

This approach is refreshing and allows for some truly memorable, surreal imagery. However, the movie lacks the zest and wild ingenuity that elevated the Final Destination franchise to cult classic status.

Whistle sometimes takes itself too seriously, failing to incorporate the same dose of dark humor and irony found in The Monkey, for example.

Nevertheless, Whistle is a well-made, stylistically cohesive horror flick that offers viewers an atmosphere of unease and interesting visual metaphors, not only just jump scares.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Whistle'?

• Whistle has 61% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 6.2/10.

• On Letterboxd, Whistle scored 2.6/5.0.

Where to Watch 'Whistle'?

Whistle is currently playing in theaters.