Il respiro del diavolo

It is one of those movies that look ordinary and start slow but catch up fast. I admit some of its plots look predictable but that is also the whole point. Human beings are all the same and all have similar weaknesses. I was particularly impressed with Josh Holloway's performance. He has talent and provided the right opportunity he can deliver. I can't say the same about Sarah Wayne Callies, she appeared to be struggling. It seemed a little light on horror for its story but otherwise gives a chilling experience nevertheless. And the ending was also good.

Overall a movie with character.

If you too like to watch a movie just for a bed-time story you know the kind - it can't be complete crap, because you won't get into the story in the first minutes, but can't be too good too, 'cause you won't fall asleep during the rest of it. Magic category. And not so numerous as it looks like. "Whisper" seemed to fit, but - surprise - it doesn't.

A quite good Ransom-Omen-Shining mix story provides actors some good dialogues to play and apart from few flaws it holds the level. Solid, creative directing (which could be even better if wasn't so "present", so "hey!-this-cut-was-a-director's-idea!") draws the tension properly. Convincing acting, without embarrassing moments (especially the kid earns respect) and very good dark music harmonized with cinematography in few mood-building panoramas (don't know why I remembered this) complete the work - WE HAVE A GOOD MOVIE HERE (and we can't sleep).

In the dead of winter, the kidnapping of a young boy results in fatal consequences in the supernatural thriller Whisper.

All Max Truemont (Josh Holloway, star of TV's smash hit Lost) wants is a chance to make a fresh start with his fiancée Roxanne...but a bank loan is not easy to get when you're a felon who's previously been convicted of manslaughter.

Max's last resort--and only remaining choice--is to team up with two shady associates hired by an absent mastermind to kidnap the son of one of the richest women in the state. After Max abducts the eight-year-old, he joins Roxanne and the fellow conspirators on an eerie, unsettling drive to their secluded winter hideout, an abandoned summer camp.

As they await ransom instructions, the group begins to turn on each other as past suspicions, betrayals and secrets inexplicably come into play. When the escalating events take a horrific turn, it soon becomes apparent to Max that the child may not be the innocent he first appeared to be.

During the years it was idling on my watchlist, I hadn't at all looked further than the poster, rating and synopsis, being under impression it's an indie film, so it was surprising to hear the fanfare of Universal studios, and see Michael Rooker and Joel Edgerton popping up. "Whisper" is, at core, a tired old story of an antichrist ("fallen angel", in the words of this film) child that doesn't get told or updated as much lately, but back in 2007 "Whisper" had fun realizing the old tale with minor changes and effort for entertainment.

Max (Josh Holloway) is denied a loan for a food shop he wants to own and operate, cornered and feeling down he gets persuaded to realize a kidnapping & extortion scheme by his friends. Together with his wife Roxanne (Sarah Wayne Callies), friends Sidney (Michael Rooker) and Vince (Joel Edgerton), they do the deed and soon start to understand that David is no typical child... He's a Damien from "The Omen" with an attitude of a Kevin McCallister. Well casted as well, I've always thought it's especially hard to create a good antagonistic child character in horror, and anchor it with befitting performance. Thankfully, Blake Woodruff delivers enough, and it's a shame this was his last before last ("Victor Crowley") movie. Against Blake stands the band of criminals, from which Michael Rooker disappears way too fast for my satisfaction, Joel Edgerton is good as the mischievous and problematic adult, Sarah Wayne Callies gives a solid performance, just her character doesn't stand out with anything, and Josh Holloway, the main protagonist, is also okay. Sit back and enjoy the little malice slowly manipulating and, of course, eventually killing people. Other than that, participate in the struggles and melodrama of the kidnappers, none of which will come off as new or more exciting than usually. Pacing's just quick enough to not lower itself into tediousness. As for the technical and aesthetical choices behind "Whisper", it smells of the according cinematic traditions of the 2000's, and I don't mean it all that badly, production design, special effects and such are fine. A Hollywood straight-to-dvd horror, is what it feels like.

"Whisper" is a good choice when you have run out of those mischievous children horror flicks that you like, and a decent choice for a random evening horror movie. It'd even better in younger audiences, despite the R rating it's not overtly explicit. My rating: 6/10.

In this terror film, the most inept band of kidnappers in world history abducts the child from hell, an eight year old adopted boy from a very wealthy family in New England who's in fact the Antichrist or something. One by one, the kidnappers will pay for their deed. The film looks like an unauthorized knock off of The Omen, and while mildly entertaining, is hardly a great film. Made with a no name cast (except perhaps for Michael Rooker, who twenty years ago has a cult hit in Henry, Portrait of a serial killer) the good scenery from New England in winter and a good hand in the directing adds a little to this passable movie. Just don't take it too seriously.