This Is The Soon-To-Be Hit Thriller You Need To Watch Out For On Netflix
Netflix doesn’t shy away from adapting popular novels into television shows or films. Just ask Harlan Coben.
The streaming giant’s latest coup is Alex North’s The Whisper Man. While North’s name might not be as easily recognizable as Coben or James Patterson’s, he’s building up a reputation as a sublime crime thriller novelist who’s on the brink of global superstardom. In the case of The Whisper Man, it’s an unsettling story in the same vein as something like Patterson’s Alex Cross novel Kiss the Girls. Naturally, it’s a pitch-perfect thriller for anyone spending a Friday night in and looking for a compelling story to watch on Netflix.
What is ‘The Whisper Man’ about?
In the past, serial killer Frank Carter, also known as the Whisper Man, terrorized the town of Featherbank. Staying true to his name, he would lurk in the shadows and whisper to children, who would then wander over to him and disappear. However, Carter was caught and put behind bars for his crimes, seemingly ending his reign of terror. Years later, a similar pattern of crime arises in Featherbank, which puts everyone on edge and makes them wonder if Carter had an apprentice or if this is a copycat killer. It’s particularly bad news for widowed author Tom Kennedy and his son, Jake, who move to this new town and find themselves in the heart of danger, as Jake starts hearing voices call out to him.
On Goodreads, the novel holds a stellar 4.02 out of 5 stars from over 180,000 ratings, which is remarkable when you consider how anything that invites user votes often degenerates into a mud show. Read through any of the reviews and it’s clear that the story creeped everyone out. Seriously, just read this passage and try to not feel a chill down your spine:
“If you leave a door half open, soon you’ll hear the whispers spoken. If you play outside alone, soon you won’t be going home. If your window’s left unlatched, you’ll hear him tapping at the glass. If you’re lonely, sad, and blue, the Whisper Man will come for you.”
Filmmakers Joe and Anthony Russo praised The Whisper Man too, hailing it “a stunningly captivating narrative that’s a nuanced and grounded exploration of father-son relationships.” Unsurprisingly, they’re on board as producers of the movie adaptation of this frightening novel.
Netflix’s ‘The Whisper Man’ assembled the big guns
The Russo brothers are producing but thankfully aren’t directing The Whisper Man (especially after the mess they made on The Electric State). That responsibility falls to actor/director James Ashcroft who will direct from a script written by Ben Jacoby and Chase Palmer. Jacoby is best known for penning The First Omen, while Palmer was one of the writers handling screenwriting duties for It, so they’re both well versed in how to scare the pants off audiences.
On the acting side, The Whisper Man looks absolutely stacked. Severance‘s Adam Scott is set to play Tom Kennedy, while Robert De Niro and Michelle Monaghan have been cast as the detectives Pete Willis and Amanda Beck respectively. Of course, it’s still early days in the production, and there are a number of other key roles to cast for the movie, but those three actors should be more than enough to sell this movie to any discerning film fan. Gone are the days when Netflix was solely the house that Noah Centineo built, as the streaming service now attracts bona fide Hollywood legends like De Niro, who also recently appeared in the hit Netflix series Zero Day.
Netflix is the right platform for this story
Two or three decades ago, The Whisper Man‘s rights would have been purchased by one of the big studios and given a wide theatrical run. Yet, the world of entertainment is much different now, and cinemagoers are finicky about what they watch on the big screen. While a film like The Whisper Man would have turned a tidy profit in the past, it’s now seen as too risky for a theatrical release – even with a notable cast. As such, a platform like Netflix is the perfect place for it, since it’s guaranteed to gain eyeballs and shouldn’t be too costly to produce.
The Whisper Man is also the kind of story that Netflix needs for its film slate, which has turned out too many turkeys as of late (still looking at you, Electric State). The source material is outstanding and engrossing, providing a hook that sinks into the audience’s attention and keeps them glued to the screen. That being said, it’s entirely possible that this could get screwed up like so many other adaptations before it, so let’s temper expectations for now. Here’s hoping we don’t have to whisper, “Go away,” to The Whisper Man when it drops on Netflix.
When Will ‘The Whisper Man’ be released on Netflix?
Right now The Whisper Man is in production. We’ll let you know as soon as we get a firm release date.