Whistle’s Biggest Problem Is How Much It Owes to Final Destination

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The new horror movie Whistle is generating buzz for its scares, but fans of the Final Destination films might find the plot familiar. Directed by Corin Hardy, who also made The Nun, the movie centers around a group of high school students who accidentally unleash an ancient curse after discovering an Aztec Death Whistle.

The film boasts a strong cast, featuring Dafne Keen (from Logan) and Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead). However, it feels very familiar, failing to offer anything new compared to the over-the-top thrills of the Final Destination movies from the early 2000s.

Whistle Is Essentially Final Destination With Extra Steps

The series Whistle features Dafne Keen as Chrys Willet, a new student with a hidden history. The story begins with a shocking event: Mason “Horse” Raymore is violently attacked and killed by a burned figure, and Chrys soon finds herself using his old locker.

The creepy skull-shaped whistle Chrys discovers is quickly revealed as the cause of the escalating danger. It soon becomes apparent that anyone who hears the whistle is doomed, and will soon die.

You’ve probably seen this kind of movie before. Final Destination essentially created the formula for films where Death is the enemy, and simply adding a whistling sound isn’t enough to make this one stand out. The movie briefly tries to link the whistle to ancient beliefs and the Olmec civilization, but those ideas aren’t explored in enough detail.

The horror film Whistle shares a lot of similarities with Final Destination. Instead of visions of disaster, it uses a cursed object to drive the plot, but the feeling of unavoidable doom and the characters’ attempts to escape their fate are very reminiscent of the Final Destination series – especially considering the recent release of Final Destination: Bloodlines.

Taking Inspiration Is Fine, But Whistle Never Brings Anything New to the Table

It’s common for horror movies to draw inspiration from previous films, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. However, Whistle doesn’t really expand on the ideas from Final Destination – it mostly just feels like a straight imitation.

Fans of horror movies where characters try to escape death have seen this premise before – the Final Destination series has six films built around it. Whistle had a chance to do something new with the idea, but it unfortunately followed the same predictable pattern and didn’t offer anything fresh.

The movie could have been much stronger if it had delved deeper into its Aztec mythology, potentially offering a thoughtful look at colonialism and its lasting impact. Instead, that aspect feels underdeveloped, used primarily to drive the plot and create action rather than being a genuine area of interest for the filmmakers.

Whistle’s Memorable Kills Aren’t Enough to Give It a Unique Identity

Michael Gibson/IFC

While some viewers might find the movie familiar, Whistle still features some truly unforgettable deaths. The film doesn’t hold back on shocking and extreme gore, starting with a fiery opening scene and continuing with moments like Nick Frost facing off against a future, sickened version of himself.

While the film has striking visuals, they aren’t enough to make it truly compelling. Despite creative and even shocking scenes, Whistle feels predictable – like a retelling of a familiar story. Without a unique core to connect everything, the impressive visuals ultimately lack substance.

The movie also fails to give its characters strong enough reasons to care about what happens, beyond simply trying to break the curse. Chrys’s past struggles with addiction and grief over her father aren’t explored deeply enough to feel impactful. Her romantic relationship with Ellie (Sophie Nélisse) also feels rushed, and ultimately, none of the storylines in the film are engaging enough to truly capture the audience’s attention.

Even Whistle’s Resolution Copied Final Destination

In the end, Whistle had a last opportunity to create a memorable finale, but it unfortunately ended up feeling very similar to the movie Final Destination. Even the film’s attempt at a surprising twist felt expected, as audiences have seen this kind of reveal many times before.

Similar to the premise of the movie Final Destination, the characters in Whistle can briefly escape death when their hearts stop. However, this predictable plot twist doesn’t create any suspense, and it highlights the film’s problems that have been present from the beginning.

While Whistle isn’t a bad movie, especially if you haven’t seen the Final Destination films before, it’s a letdown for longtime fans. It had a lot of promise, but ultimately doesn’t offer anything new or exciting for the series.

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2026-02-25 21:09