Whispers in the Dark Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		2.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		2.0

Whispers in the Dark Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 17, 2022

Erotic thrillers really hit their stride in the 1980s. Stripped of the grimier sensibilities of the 1970s, the subgenre found glossiness it could work with, dealing with charged stories of sex and murder through highly stylized directorial efforts, including the one of the biggest hits of the decade, 1987’s “Fatal Attraction.” As cable service and video stores spread across the U.S., the value of the erotic thriller changed, with audiences no longer required to visit the theater to enjoy some slightly embarrassing titillation, getting their kicks in the privacy of their own home with help from a collection of B- list actors more than willing to disarm and disrobe for these productions, which were cheap to produce. 1992’s “Whispers in the Dark” wasn’t cheap (reportedly costing $30 million dollars to make), and it was generally behind the times in content. Sure, coming out the same year as “Basic Instinct” didn’t hurt, but the Paul Verhoeven event film was wickedly volatile, with heavy European sensibilities, and it was well-crafted. “Whispers in the Dark” is basically the opposite of “Basic Instinct,” with writer/director Christopher Crowe (“Off Limits”) hunting for a similar balance of kinkiness and violent activities, crafting a whodunit that tries to be more psychological in its approach, adding bits of carnal activities here and there. Crowe arrives with good intentions to generate twists and menace, but the final cut becomes completely ridiculous at times, especially when third act events arrive, which offer unintentional laughs, not satisfying closure.

In New York City, Ann (Annabella Sciorra) is a psychiatrist working with a series of deeply disturbed individuals, including John (John Leguizamo), an artist who has a real problem with women, barely controlling his anger. Ann also works with Eve (Deborah Kara Unger), a mysterious patient who discusses her active sex life, sharing tales of sadomasochistic encounters with a mystery man. The stories excite Ann in ways she doesn’t understand, infiltrating her dreams as she deals with unusual feelings that prey on her trust issues. When Ann meets Doug (Jamie Sheridan), she allows herself to be happy for the first time in a long time, embarking on a relationship with a seemingly kind man. However, perceived betrayal is felt when Ann catches Doug having lunch with Eve, putting her in a troubling position, turning to Leo (Alan Alda), her friend and mentor, for help as she undergoes her own therapeutic journey. Ann’s feeling of instability increases when one of her patients ends up murdered, putting Detective Morgenstern (Anthony LaPaglia) on the case, and he has no patience for the psychiatrist, making her a top suspect while he hunts for a motive.

“Whispers in the Dark” doesn’t hide its intentions, offering a peek into Ann’s dreamscape during the main titles, which showcase faceless bodies engaging in sexual acts. Such vivid fantasies keep the character unsettled, especially when dealing with her current boyfriend, Paul (Anthony Heald), an unlikable, selfish guy who offers nothing but distance, failing to excite a woman who’s in search of something more in life. Ann’s office routine isn’t helping the cause, managing John, who presents an aura of instability as he shares strange, female-centic art with his therapist. And there’s Eve, who’s struggling with her own feelings, presenting the details of her sex life, which involves dangerous games of violence, riding the line between excitement and fear. Eve is disturbed, trying to equate physical threat with pleasure, and she gets off on Ann’s response to these encounters, watching the doctor lose herself in the thought of such a relationship, even going as far as to begin a masturbation session in the office, which clearly identifies the unreality of the screenwriting.

Ann finds the man of her dreams in George, who pushes himself on her, and she’s happy to have the attention. He’s a private plane pilot eager to make a positive impression on his object of desire, with the pair enjoying flights, dinners, and, eventually, sex, giving Ann some source of happiness after dealing with so much, including unresolved daddy issues crammed into the exposition. “Whispers in the Dark” has a sharp hook for suspense when Ann discovers George sharing a meal with Eve, exposing their relationship, but Crowe doesn’t build on such an enticing breach of trust. Instead, the material slides into a murder mystery of sorts when dead bodies begin showing up, and Ann is soon challenged by Morgenstern, a hardened NYC cop with a community college psych background (LaPaglia is all kinds of wrong for the role), and he’s eager to peel the doctor like an onion, trying to get inside her head to better understand her mission with crazy patients, along with her personal relationships, with Eve the key to everything wrong with this situation.

Leo is presented as the voice of reason, with his refined upstate life with spouse Sarah (Jill Clayburgh, wasted on a nothing part) providing comfort to Ann during her time of need. Leo also becomes Ann’s doctor, understanding her desires and the details of her time with Doug, providing legal advice when everything starts to go bad for her. Crowe has a map of character relationships and motivations, but he doesn’t follow it with any noticeable enthusiasm, as the feature isn’t a nail-biter in the least, struggling to sell the intensity of head games played on Ann, while initial lustfulness is completely abandoned in the second half of the movie, with eroticism booted from the endeavor.

Whispers in the Dark Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is sourced from a very old, possibly DVD-era master. While Shout Factory tries to create a passable viewing experience, age is inescapable. Detail is mostly missing, losing textures on skin surfaces and interior decoration, and city tours offer only basic dimension. Colors fare a bit better, handling warmer office and home environments, but distinct hues aren't present. Delineation slips into solidification. Grain is chunky, losing a natural, film-like appearance. Artifacting is present, most pronounced during the main title sequence.

Whispers in the Dark Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix delivers pronounced dialogue exchanges, working with heated confronted and more hushed performances, especially from Sciorra. Nothing reaches into distortive extremes. Scoring is also appealing, with delicate piano selections and more suspenseful strings appreciable. Surrounds aren't lively, but atmospherics are present, along with musical offerings. Low-end is rarely challenged.

Whispers in the Dark Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Theatrical Trailer (1:47, SD) is included.

Whispers in the Dark Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It's tough to remain with Ann, who emerges as a practiced therapist with no awareness of anything or anyone in her life. While Crowe tries to knot up the story, he never tops the sting of Doug and Eve's relationship, going in a completely different direction for the finale, which is teeming with bad choices from miscast actors, and the writing simply gives up just to find a way out of the story. "Whispers in the Dark" is always absurd, but with heat and simple acts of betrayal, it had a chance to connect with viewers. Crowe doesn't trust such primal urges, laboring to make a puzzle out of the endeavor, without offering a reason to solve it.