The Whisper Man

What’s it about?

When his eight-year-old son is abducted, a widowed crime writer turns to his estranged father for help – only to discover a connection with the decades-old case of a convicted serial killer known as "The Whisper Man”.

The facts 

• Directed by James Ashcroft (The Rule of Jenny Pen)
• Starring Robert De Niro (Killers of the Flower Moon), Michelle Monaghan (The White Lotus), Adam Scott (Severance), Hamish Linklater (Widow’s Bay)
• English language 
• Runtime: 113 minutes
• Based on the crime-thriller novel by Alex North

Why did it get this rating? 

This film was self-rated by Netflix. You can find out more about self-rating by streaming providers here.

Suicide

A man stabs himself in the neck while being talked to by police. This is unexpected and bloody but is over relatively quickly.

Violence and content that may disturb

The violence in the film is moderate. Injuries from fights include gunshots, stabbings, falls, and strangulations.

Some of the most disturbing scenes include:

• A serial killer kidnaps children from their bedrooms. We hear tape recordings of them talking to each other, and these are creepy and disturbing. There is the implication that he sexually abuses them, but no details are given.
• A strange figure is seen inside and outside a house at night, which causes some jump scares.
• Viewers should be aware there is footage of dead children, found by police and search parties. 

Offensive language

There is frequent use of the words “sh*t” and “f*ck”, as well as one use of the word “c*nt”.

Helplines

The suicide content could be upsetting for some viewers, especially for those who have gone through similar experiences. If you are struggling with what you have seen on-screen, please reach out for help. If you or someone you know needs to talk:

• 1737
• Safe to talk
• Lifeline
• Youthline

Further information 

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?