Netflix's latest thriller, 'The Whisper Man,' channels the spirit of '90s-style serial killer movies, drawing comparisons to iconic films that shaped the genre. The film features a serial killer, harried detectives, and the trope of consulting an imprisoned slayer, mirroring the narrative structure of classics like 'The Silence of the Lambs' and 'Seven.'
Even with a modern setting, 'The Whisper Man' incorporates retro elements. The antagonist uses outdated communication methods, creating creepy recordings on cassette tapes and mailing them to media outlets, a nod to the Zodiac Killer. The film's tone and style evoke the era when audiences flocked to theaters for films starring actors like Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, Denzel Washington, and Angelina Jolie, who often portrayed characters hunting or being victimized by elusive killers.
Several films from the '90s and early 2000s are cited as precursors to 'The Whisper Man.' 'The Silence of the Lambs,' a multiple Oscar winner, set a benchmark for the genre with its intense portrayal of Hannibal Lecter, the infamous serial killer, and his psychological manipulation of FBI trainee Clarice Starling, played by Jodie Foster. The film's chilling quote, "IT PUTS THE LOTION IN THE BASKET!" remains ingrained in popular culture.
David Fincher's 'Seven' is another significant influence. The film follows detectives played by Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt as they hunt a serial killer whose murders are themed around the seven deadly sins. The movie is noted for its dark atmosphere and a shocking final twist.
Other films that contributed to the serial killer thriller landscape include 'Copycat' (1995), starring Sigourney Weaver as a forensic psychologist and Holly Hunter as a detective confronting a killer who imitates other serial murderers. 'Kiss the Girls' (1997) features Morgan Freeman as a detective teaming up with Ashley Judd, whose character escapes a killer specializing in sexual violence. 'The Bone Collector' (1999) stars Denzel Washington as a quadriplegic detective and Angelina Jolie as an NYPD officer searching for a serial killer.
Ashley Judd also starred in 'Twisted' (2004), playing a homicide cop investigating murders linked to men she has recently met, while experiencing blackouts. The film 'Taking Lives' (2004), starring Angelina Jolie as an FBI profiler and Ethan Hawke, involves an agent tracking a serial killer who assumes the identities of his victims. The more recent film 'The Little Things' (2021) is described as a '90s-coded cop drama, with Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, and Jared Leto investigating a serial killer.
The list also includes 'Zodiac' (2007), directed by David Fincher, which is based on a true story. The film chronicles the obsessive investigation into the Zodiac Killer by a cartoonist (Jake Gyllenhaal), a journalist (Robert Downey Jr.), and a detective (Mark Ruffalo).