Whistle is an Irish-Canadian teen horror directed by Corin Hardy and written by Owen Egerton. Set in a faded North American steel town, the story follows Chrys, a thoughtful and quietly rebellious high-school student played by Dafne Keen. After inheriting the locker of a popular basketball player who dies in a shocking prologue, she discovers a skull-shaped Aztec whistle engraved with a phrase that may mean “summon the dead” or “summon your dead.” When curiosity leads Chrys and her classmates to use it, the whistle begins turning their personal fears about death into terrifying reality.
Chrys becomes the emotional centre of the story, portrayed as introspective and lonely rather than reckless, which grounds the escalating horror in believable character choices. Her developing relationship with Ellie (Sophie Nélisse), adds a softer emotional core. Chrys wrestles with romantic uncertainty and fears about her sobriety while chaos intensifies around her.
Supporting characters include a darkly comic teacher, Mr Craven (Nick Frost), whose initially humorous presence turns unexpectedly tragic, and a shady preacher portrayed by Percy Hynes White, whose involvement in drug dealing adds atmosphere but never fully integrates into the central plot.
Thematically, the film leans more toward identity and belonging than simple shock value. Teenage relationships are portrayed with tenderness, highlighting awkward courtship rituals, social pressure and the isolation felt by teens who do not fit in.
Visually, Hardy emphasises mood and texture over glossy polish. The steel-town setting — gives the film a bruised, nostalgic tone that contrasts with typical suburban teen horrors. Dark humour and playful genre references appear throughout, including hidden nods to classic horror filmmakers in character and location names. A harvest festival sequence featuring a surreal straw maze becomes one of the most memorable set pieces, pushing the story into dreamlike territory while maintaining tension.
As the supernatural rules take hold, the narrative shifts toward inventive kill sequences shaped by each character’s anxieties. Many deaths unfold like twisted chain reactions reminiscent of inevitability-driven horror, blending grim humour with genuine suspense. Despite familiar genre elements such as cursed object, rising body count and self-aware references, the film’s softer tone and emphasis on emotional vulnerability help distinguish it from more formulaic teen slashers.
Although the pacing dips midway and the preacher subplot feels underdeveloped, strong performances and atmospheric direction keep the story engaging.
Overall, the film balances bloody spectacle with heartfelt character work, delivering a moody and occasionally uneven but distinctive teen horror experience that combines familiar tropes with empathy, dark humour and an unexpectedly tender emotional core.
