The Whisper Man – Movie Review | Netflix (4/5)

THE WHISPER MAN on Netflix is a serial killer thriller with an extremely strong cast, which saves the weaker parts of the plot. Fair warning: The victims are all children, which hits hard. Fortunately, the focus isn’t on their suffering, but rather on catching the killer. Read our full The Whisper Man movie review here and find it on Netflix now!

THE WHISPER MAN is a Netflix crime thriller about a serial killer of children. It’s based on a book, which I have not read, so I can’t speak as to how closely it follows the novel. However, what I can definitely say is that the casting of this Netflix movie is absolutely breathtaking. Every single key role is portrayed by an actor who makes the storyline strong with their presence and portrayal alone.

It is a fairly long movie with an official runtime of 1 hour and 51 minutes. Sure, when the ending was still 20 minutes away, I was wondering what would come next. However, it delivered a very strong ending. And also, an extremely brutal ending. One many will probably love and applaud, though it goes further than we usually see.

The end credits kept going for me (instead of suggesting what to watch next), but The Whisper Man has no end-credit scene.

Continue reading our The Whisper Man movie review below. Find it on Netflix from August 28, 2026.

The wrong guy or a new copycat?

The core plot of The Whisper Man isn’t all that new or surprising. A serial killer was caught decades ago, but now new victims show up. The question becomes: Did they get the wrong guy? Was there an accomplice? Or are we dealing with a new copycat?

Fortunately for the plot development, there is no real doubt about the guilt of the convicted serial killer, so the other two theories are prevalent.

We follow a widowed crime writer (Adam Scott), who has just moved to a small town, when his eight-year-old son is abducted. He turns to his estranged father (Robert De Niro), who is a retired police detective. And yes, he is the man who caught the serial killer known as “The Whisper Man.”

Of course, something about that serial killer case always bothered the seasoned detective, and now it seems that it has come back to haunt him as his grandson may be a new victim.

You don’t need to know anything else about the plot, as it develops and evolves in ways that give you all the clues you need. In fact, it gets pretty forced and a little hamfisted with its clues at times. If you’re used to watching crime thrillers, you’ll likely be one step ahead of the reveals. Of course, this is only because the clues are there.

As are the supporting cast actors, who you may (like I did) recognize even from just the briefest glimpse of them.

The many talents of The Whisper Man cast

The three main stars of The Whisper Man are Michelle Monaghan (Echoes), Robert De Niro (Zero Day), and Adam Scott (Hokum). They are all involved in finding the serial killer, though coming from fairly different angles and reasons. All three are fierce and solid in their portrayals, but then again, I am always very fond of these actors, so I wouldn’t expect anything less.

When it comes to the supporting cast, we are truly being spoiled. And yes, pun intended. There is something almost dangerous in having so many amazing actors in your cast. I mean, obviously, every single one of them cannot be the serial killer.

Amazing talent like Hamish Linklater (Midnight Mass), Owen Teague (The Stand, It), and Michael Keaton (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) are not cast in a movie like The Whisper Man without having a big impact on the plot. For the record, all three actors are brilliant in their respective roles. Each in their own way, and this is absolutely why our rating is a 4 instead of a solid 3.

Especially, Michael Keaton delivered the kind of performance where I found myself wanting to watch an entire movie about his character.

Watch The Whisper Man on Netflix now

James Ashcroft is the director of The Whisper Man, and I do tend to like his work. The most recent movie of his that we have reviewed was The Rule of Jenny Pen (2024), which hit damn hard. This was not least thanks to the actors in that movie, which seems to be a pattern with this director. When he gets a great cast, he makes the very most of it.

His 2021 horror-thriller Coming Home in the Dark is another such example. Really, watch that one too!

The Whisper Man is based on the New York Times bestselling novel by Alex North. The screenplay was written by Ben Jacoby (The First Omen) and Chase Palmer (It), who adapted the novel. As already mentioned, I have not read the book, but this movie made me want to, and that is always a good sign. Just like the opposite is not the case, as I experienced with another release this same week.

It’s produced by the Russo Brothers’ AGBO banner, and as gritty crime thrillers go, this is an easy recommendation to watch. And yes, the casting of such immense talent – and the portrayals they deliver – ensures a very entertaining experience. If you like crime thrillers or serial killer plots, then The Whisper Man is a great choice. Yes, even if the plot seems a bit predictable at times, the performances more than make up for this.

The Whisper Man is out on Netflix from August 28, 2026.

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Details

Director: James Ashcroft
Writers: Ben Jacoby, Chase Palmer, Alex North
Stars: Robert De Niro, Michelle Monaghan, Adam Scott, Michael Keaton, Owen Teague, Hamish Linklater, Acston Luca Porto