Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.0

The Whisperers Blu-ray Movie Review

A British drama featuring a first-rate performance by star Edith Evans

Exploring the difficult life of the elderly Mrs. Margaret Ross (Edith Evans), The Whisperers is a drama which is set against the backdrop of England circa the mid-1960's. The story is an adaptation of the novel written by Robert Nicolson. The Whisperers is a compelling dramatic experience that was produced by Michael Laughlin (Two-Lane Blacktop) and Ronald Shedlo (Carrington). A compelling exploration of the life (and surprises) of one woman.

Mrs. Margaret Ross (Edith Evans) is an old woman living a lonely life in England. Without anyone beside her for the day-to-day, Mrs. Ross lives a largely secluded life in her home. She has mental illness and clearly struggles with hoarding old newspapers and other assorted items that she feels cannot be parted with. Receiving an unexpected visit from her son, Charlie Ross (Ronald Fraser), events unfold that Mrs. Ross would never have expected in a million years.

Drama unfolds in the blink of an eye. It turns out Mrs. Ross's son has a criminal background: Charlie leaves a package containing a massive amount of money in it in one of the unused rooms in her home. This is a problematic starting point as twists-and-turns in the story impact the life of Mrs. Ross in more ways than one. Upon discovering the large sum of money while on her own, Mrs. Ross believes it to be something her son left behind for her own use. Yet that isn't the end of the story: things heat up when a visit is paid by her husband Archie Ross (Eric Portman). Having not seen Archie in many years (as he left her in the dust), Mrs. Ross goes through one surprising experience after another while her health falters and things start to spiral out of control. Can Mrs. Ross find peace, health, and prosperity?

Darkness in Light

The Whisperers is entirely the Edith Evans show: the performance by the actress is impressive and she is the backbone of the entire production. Without the efforts of Edith Evans to portray this complicated character, The Whisperers wouldn't be half as good as it ultimately is. There is a certain degree of clear intimacy and passion in the nuanced performance. Evans demonstrates the sweetness of Mrs. Margaret Ross while also exploring the darkness of her struggles with hoarding and the difficult relationships in her life.

There are other impressive elements to the filmmaking as well: certainly there is something to be said about the costume designs by Julie Harris (Live and Let Die, A Hard Day's Night). The efforts which are used throughout the production are first-rate in regards to forming believable characters. These costumes match the setting efficiently and effectively. Top notch and worthy of kudos. Similarly, fantastic cinematography by Gerry Turpin (Seance on a Wet Afternoon, I Want What I Want) is something that adds extra gravitas.

The original music score composed by John Berry (Dances with Wolves, The Cotton Club) also adds considerable heft. The score might not stand out quite as well as an all-out classic would but it feels decidedly appropriate for the material and never distracts from one's enjoyment. While not exemplary to the extreme, the John Berry score is nonetheless effective and an important part of the film's DNA.

Bryan Forbes (The Stepford Wives, International Velvet) adapted the screenplay and directed The Whisperers with the kind of dedication that is necessary to produce a solid feature. However, the filmmaking never feels like the work of an auteur and is more workmanlike in style. Even so, the film remains worthy of a watch. While not a genuine classic in every sense of the word, The Whisperers is nonetheless something audiences will want to discover for it's excellent performance by Edith Evans. British drama fans should take note.

The Whisperers Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Whisperers arrives on Blu-ray from distributor Kino Lorber with a 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition presentation in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.66:1 widescreen. The film has received a brand new 2K master. This is a strong presentation on the whole. The transfer is largely clean and free from distracting dirt or debris on the master. The film scan is largely effective and pleasing to behold. The black and white cinematography looks impressive on this 2K scan.

The Whisperers Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes a DTS-HD Master Audio mono audio presentation. The audio is generally crisp and easy to understand. While the dynamics of the track are rather average, the sound clarity is quite effective and the track is largely free from having distracting hiss, crackle, warps, and other distractions that could deter viewers from having a pleasant listening experience. A good lossless presentation.

The Whisperers Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary by Film Historian Kat Ellinger

The release includes a selection of trailers for other releases available from distributor Kino Lorber: The Queen of Spades (SD, 2:51), Room at the Top (SD, 2:54), A Child is Waiting (SD, 2:45), Mirage (SD, 2:12), and It Always Rains on Sunday (SD, 2:38).

The Whisperers Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Whisperers is an interesting experience with a first-rate performance by Edith Evans carrying the filmmaking on its shoulders from start to finish. The dramatic storyline is one that audiences will be intrigued by and the direction by Bryan Forbes (The Stepford Wives) makes the film worth a watch. Featuring a new 2K master, The Whisperers has received a solid Blu-ray that is worth checking out. Recommended.