WFG RATING: B+

IFC presents a No Trace Camping production in association with Wild Atlantic Pictures. Directed by Corin Hardy. Produced by Whitney Brown, David Gross, and Macdara Kelleher. Written by Owen Egerton. Cinematography by Björn Charpentier. Edited by Nick Emerson.

Stars Dafne Keen, Sophie Nélisse, Percy Hynes White, Sky Yang, Ali Skovbye, Jhaleil Swaby, with Michelle Fairley, and Nick Frost.

A group of high school students fall prey to something very unexpected in this new horror film from director Corin Hardy.

After the mysterious death of star basketball player Mason “Horse” Raymore, the high school is still grieving when newcomer Chrys Willet comes. A recovering drug addict, Chrys is forced to live with her aunt and cousin Rel. When Chrys is given Horse’s locker, she is met with resistance and rage from his fellow players. However, when she meets Ellie, there may be hope for her after all.

Chrys notices a mysterious item in Horse’s locker. After being forced into detention thanks to Horse’s teammates, Chrys accidentally reveals the item found. The teacher, Mr. Craven, sees it as a “whistle” of sorts that belonged to the Aztecs. After stealing it back, Chrys is invited to a local party with the now apologetic players, Ellie, Rel, and others. Dared to blow the whistle, Chrys does so. Soon, the group find themselves being killed one-by-one and the only one who may have the answers is Horse’s mom, who is reeling from his death but may know why the deaths are happening.

Owen Egerton’s screenplay is quite intriguing and has some sort of Final Destination vibes. The victims are hunted down and killed interestingly by their future selves is a fascinating concept. With Corin Hardy’s direction and the eclectic cast, it holds quite well as a great start to the year in terms of indie horror films.

Dafne Keen, fresh off her return as X-23 in Deadpool and Wolverine, is great as Chrys, who is looking for a fresh start due to an accident that caused her father’s death. Immediately after her arrival, she runs afoul of the popular jocks of the school, still grieving over the death of their star teammate, seen in the film’s opening scene. At first, she only has her cousin Rel, played by Sky Yang; and new classmate Ellie, played by Sophie Nélisse, supporting her. It is once they, along with the jocks and some of the popular girls, are in detention that they decide to give her a chance.

It sometimes feels like it will go on a Mean Girls route, but it’s not the case. It is when they are at the house party that they do coerce Chrys to blow the whistle. It is then where the film picks up those Final Destination vibes in the sense that death is coming for them. However, the capper is that it is not an ordinary brand of death, but something more sinister. Game of Thrones’ Michelle Fairley is excellent in the role of Mrs. Raymore, who may hold the key to the whistle’s power and ability to possible end the chaos. It is as if her character is similar to that of the late Tony Todd’s Bludworth in said Final Desination.

What may be found interesting as well in the film are a haunted house scene where Rel is disguised as a Crow-like character, considering director Hardy was to have directed a Crow reboot about a decade ago with Jason Momoa to lead that had ended before it began; and that there are not one, but two characters fans will anticipate getting theirs by the entities as they seem to be the most undeterred and arrogant characters of the film.

As for the death scenes, there are times when the gore factor comes into play and goes no holds barred. It is because the deaths look so insane in a supernatural fashion. Imagine one death where a victim’s parents, worried about their son, open their door and actually witnesses their loved one’s death right there and then.

Whistle is a really good start for indie horror films this year. The cast is great, the story offers something fresh in its vibes, and the kills are a delight. Definitely worth checking out!

The film will be released exclusively in theaters on February 6.