Whispers in the Dark | | Cast : | Annabella Sciorra, Jamey Sheridan, Alan Alda | | Director : | Christopher Crowe | | Studio : | Paramount Home Video | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Surround Sound | | Released Date : | August 07, 1992 | | DVD Released Date : | September 07, 2004 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | May 30, 2005 | | Summary | Entertaining whodunit set in psychiatric community... | Content
 | Whispers in the Dark (1992), an entertaining whodunit/whydunit, may also fall conveniently under the category, "white-collar thriller". Similar to films produced around this period: Malice (1993), Hand that Rocks the Cradle (1992), and Single White Female (1992), Whispers in the Dark focuses its attentions on Ann Hecker (Annabella Sciorra) whose psychiatric practice may suffer irreparably as a result of engaging the attentions of Doug McDowell (Jamey Sheridan), a robust pilot who flirts with Ann one morning while standing in a crowded elevator.
What begins as a minor flirtation sets in motion a series of events, one of which results in the murder of one of Ann's clients, Eve Abergray (Deborah Kara), who had a history of exploring sexually deviant acts with an unnamed boyfriend of similar erotic tastes. As the film progresses, Ann has just cause to suspect Doug of foul play. Larry Morgenstern (Anthony LaPaglia), a tough and unflinching detective, harasses Ann for her session notes and resents what he feels to be the inanities of her chosen profession. Yet as the film continues, Crowe offers a higher body count than one would expect from the closed world of artists and their attendant shrinks. At any given point, anybody might be capable of murder. Ann's mentor, Leo Green (Alan Alda), a likeable and easy going director of psychiatric medicine, aids Ann in her own need to process a past that has left her haunted and troubled, particularly in her relations with men.
At the conclusion of the film, one wonders if Crowe's intention was to offer a timely critique of helping professions. Crowe weaves into his storyline, the limits of psychiatric medicine by throwing into relief those moments when professionals fail to apprehend accurately the real danger brewing just beneath the surface. Sciorra and Sheridan give decent performances as potential lovers seeking one another in the midst of a murder investigation. Whether they end up with one another is part of the mystery. For another example of a thriller which moves the sophistication notch up a few levels, view Lantana (2001) which also stars Anthony LaPaglia.
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| Rating | | | Date | December 02, 2004 | | Summary | When shrinks go crazy | Content
| Annabella Sciorra is VERY sexy in this film as a psychiatrist who is trying to both treat her patients' dysfunctional behavior as well as her own bizarre sexuality at the same time. Her performance alone is worth the price of the DVD.
The other big name in the cast is Alan Alda of MASH (Hawkeye Pierce) fame. There were times in this movie that I thought it was the Hawkeye Pierce inside of Alda that relished the chance to slam psychologists.
While the plot is fairly predictable, there are a few unexpected twists and turns along the way. The most thought-provoking aspect of the movie is just how unwieldy & powerful that shrinks can get. This is something that scares me - especially if they're vindictive and / or crazy themselves!
If you're looking for a dark & erotic psychological thriller, this one might be up your alley. I can think of worse ways to spend my evenings than having Annabella Sciorra as a guest on the screen of my HDTV! |
| Rating | | | Date | September 15, 2004 | | Summary | Solid thriller in "Basic Instinct" mold | Content
| An uneasy mixture of thrills, chills and camp, "Whispers in the Dark" came out the same time as "Basic Instinct" and, although it lacks the high cheese factor that distinguishes that film, it has its moments. Psychiatrist Ann Hecker (Annabella Sciorra) is trapped in a dead end relationship which makes listening to one of her patient's (Deborah Unger in a sultry, memorable performance)unusual sexual exploits difficult. Seeking solice she seeks advice from her mentor (Alan Alda). When she becomes involved with a man (the underrated and great Jamey Sheridan) she meets in an elevator, she finds some fulfulliment. Then one of her patient's is murdered and evidence points to her new boyfriend as a possible suspect her world is turned upside down.
With a twist ending out of Agatha Christie (albeit involving sexual jealous as a motive), "Whispers in the Dark" is a bit uneven but a throughly enjoyable mystery thriller that you might see Lifetime (although without the sexual explicitness). Christopher Crowe (screenwriter of "The Last of the Mohicans")does a great job directing his screenplay. With memorable performances from a strong supporting cas including Jill Clayburgh, John Leguizamo and Anthony LaPaglia, "Whispers in the Dark" doesn't come with any extras on DVD but has a nice transfer that looks sharp with solid color reproduction. |
| Rating | | | Date | March 31, 2004 | | Summary | Hey, it's good. Honest. | Content
| I don't know why reviewers were so harsh with this film. It was interesting and entertaining, and it kept me quessing, even though the other contributers on this page gave away the ending without warning of "spoilers." I recommend this film when you are not in the mood for the latest "critical success/oscar contender," preferring instead a nifty little mystery. It gets points also for having a straightforward ending, and not one of this twists where you go "huh?" |
| Rating | | | Date | March 31, 2003 | | Summary | Problematic | Content
| Unger nailed her part as an obsessive patient perfectly but Sciorra seems to blunder around this film, not suspecting her mentor until the very end. I would think that if you could suspect your boyfirend so quickly and see that his face wasn't exactly real you would suspect everyone. Instead of goign that route, it makes her tunnel focused on teh always charismatic Sheridan as teh main suspect.
Great actors, with a story that doesn't quite shock. |
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