The closing film at the 2025 edition of Fantastic Fest was a new film written by Owen Egerton (Mercy Black, Blood Fest) and directed by Corin Hardy (The Hallow, The Nun), Whistle. The film centers on a group of high school students who discover an ancient Aztec Death Whistle. After blowing the whistle, they quickly realize death is coming for them.

What many horror fans are sure to love about Whistle is that it’s a throwback to horror films of the 80s. The film is clearly directed towards teens, but the horror, gore, and R rating make it more like the teen-focused horror films of the past. It begins by introducing Chrys, the new kid at school who just moved in with her cousin. With rumors about her past already circulating at her new school and her standoffish, alternative style, Chrys is an instant outcast. After she finds a group who might accept her, she also finds the whistle. They all decide to blow the whistle, which makes a haunting sound. Unfortunately, it’s not until after they blow the whistle that the teens realize hearing that sound will bring them to an early grave. They must unlock the secrets of the whistle and find a way to stop death before it’s too late. Whistle takes audiences on an exciting, frightening, and surprisingly gruesome ride they won’t soon forget. It has a nostalgic feel, reminiscent of cult classic 80s horror films, but with a modern twist. Not only does it depict teens from different backgrounds who would normally be in different social circles coming together, but it also features a prominent queer romance.

Horror fans are sure to appreciate the mix of characters and the nostalgic feel. Yet it’s the mythos that will really grab audiences’ attention. The film doesn’t necessarily explore the origins of the titular whistle too deeply, but it does convey how it works and the twisted ways it kills those who hear it. Yet much of the plot of Whistle feels surface level. It presents compelling themes including queer love, addiction, depression, and more, but the film fails to convey more than a passing acknowledgment of these themes. This carries over to the origin of the whistle as well, which gives a basic explanation while brushing over what could be construed as cultural appropriation. The biggest offense, albeit one that could be waved off as part of the 80s vibe, is just how convenient some things are. These teens find an ancient Aztec Death Whistle and their teacher just so happens to have specialized in that region and time period when he was in college. They try to solve the mystery of the whistle and all too easily find how it arrived in this small town. It ultimately makes it appear as if the filmmakers didn’t believe in the intelligence of their audience, but it’s hard to deny the sheer entertainment value of the horrors.

There are some familiar faces appearing in Whistle, as well as a couple of newer ones. Daphne Keen (Logan, His Dark Materials) stars as Chrys, the new girl in town. Keen easily conveys a darkness inside Chrys. Yet at her core, she is a loving and kind person who is simply filled with self-loathing and afraid to let people get close to her. After seeing Keen in many heady roles as a child star, it’s great to see her do something that still has a bit of weight, yet is ultimately more fun that many of her previous roles. Sophie Nélisse (Yellowjackets, 47 Meters Down: Uncaged) plays the sweet and helpful Ellie. This is a character with a heart of gold, always willing to go the extra mile to save others, yet Nélisse also makes it apparent Ellie knows how to bite back when necessary. Keen and Nélisse have great on-screen chemistry, easily convincing the audience they’re a couple of teens finding first love with each other. Other great performances come from Sky Yang (Last Days), Jhaleil Swaby (White Dog), Ali Skovbye (Breakthrough), and even Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead). It’s important audiences know the film also features Percy Hynes White (Wednesday), who has unsavory allegations against him, playing a villainous role.

Making up for some of the issues with the story in Whistle are fantastic visuals and a great score. As soon as the film begins, the music takes on an upbeat, techno sound reminiscent of an 80s action movie. Composer Doomphonic keeps things interesting by weaving dark, more ambient sounds throughout as well. At the start of Whistle, the film features CGI flames that look rather cheesy. Don’t let this fool you – the rest of the visuals are quite striking. Using both CGI and practical effects, the film includes both subtle, unnerving fear with bigger, frightening jump scares. The definitive highlight of the entire film is the deaths. From the moment Chrys and her friends hear the whistle, they are picked off in varying, horrific ways. Audiences will appreciate the amount of gore while also witnessing a couple of truly shocking moments they won’t soon forget. The terror is undeniable and adds to the nostalgic sensibility, possibly reminding horror fans of such films as A Nightmare on Elm Street with just how brutally some of these kids die. If there is one true negative to the sights of the film, it’s the truly heinous wig they put on Keen.

Whistle brings brutality back to teenage horror, delivering a nostalgic feel with modern sensibilities. Hardy and Egerton work well together, creating a film that’s somewhat light on lore but effectively frightening. A few revisions could have added more depth to the characters and mythos, but it’s still a memorable viewing experience. Audiences will have a hard time not falling in love with Keen and Nélisse, both giving great performances. Yet what will really make this a hit is the shockingly violent kills. The effects look great and will have audiences gasping. You can see Whistle on the big screen on February 6th, and be sure to stick around for an exciting mid-credit scene.

OVERALL RATING: 6/10