There is this unapologetically evil genius aura about him that makes it so convincing. Sorry to spill the beans, but Keaton is also the original 'Whisper Man'. The storyline is about someone who has started killing again, in a similar fashion. However, it is Keaton who stands out despite the presence of Robert De Niro. The manner in which his eyes light up when choking his own son with his own hands, and forcing himself to watch this horror of a moment, remains in your mind as the credits roll in. Truly, the new or the latest Whisper Man is no match for Keaton, but still, the movie is worth the watch.
The storytelling is not rushed or slow - just about simmering, perfect given that audiences today are as knowledgeable as the entire CSI crew on prime time shows. There is also not a lot of explanation of how this evil works against small kids by strangling boys with their faces covered. This is how Keaton also tries to explain it - sometimes, the darkness inside has to emerge, and that is what the movie is about. There are different types of darkness that the content shares with you. There is one in a crime novelist's mind after the demise of his wife, as he struggles to raise their only son. There is one more in his mind, filled with hate toward his father [Robert De Niro], without any second chances.
And then, his little boy seems to be visited by the ghost of a girl [her identity withheld until the last moment] who stays by his side even as he is kidnapped and held up in a creepy room by the wannabe Whisper Man. Perhaps the most disturbing bit of darkness lurking in the movie is the reason why Keaton happens to be the indicted Whisper Man, and why his own son needs to repeat his acts. The reasons feel more awful if you look closely at how Keaton explains it. There is a moment when Robert De Niro addresses these reasons, and Keaton looks visibly disturbed at being found out - these moments will pass you by if you are fiddling with your remote as the movie tries its best not to be dramatic, even during the tell-all scenes.
If you have already seen too many serial killer movies, the plot will not shock you. If you find it hard to digest that someone would unapologetically strangle young boys because of their own damned childhood, some scenes might challenge you. Overall, the pace of the movie is quick. Even hunting the neighborhood and finding the new Whisper Man does not take time. The real juice is in what makes these guys kill - the mind at work; either it captures your attention, or you are repelled by it!