Film critics can easily see hundreds of movies each year, and it can get to be a lot. With so many plots and dialogue repeated endlessly in script after script, it’s easy to get a bit jaded. This is probably why some of the films that intrigue us the most aren’t always as well-liked by general audiences. Sometimes it’s nice just to have something new and different to entertain us. It’s also wonderful when something comes along filled with a passion and heart that mainstream films can oftentimes lack. Which is why it was so refreshing to catch Copper Hills High’s student film Whispers because not only is it fantastically well done, the love and care invested shine through in every second.
Bailey (Macie Harwood) is having a rough go of it. Her life has been in limbo since the mysterious disappearance of her father, and not only is she having to start things over with a new foster family, she’s also navigating the perils of high school. To make matters worse, she is being haunted in her dreams by a mysterious being known only as The Dealer. Thankfully, she has the help of her new roommate Cameron (Steven Butts) who teams up with her to figure out what this phantom is up to and how it could be connected with what happened to her father. But as her dreams intensify, she begins to realize that this isn’t just a game, and that her life and very soul are on the line if she can’t beat The Dealer at his battle of wills.
I cannot stress enough just how well-made Whispers is. I’ve seen plenty of student films that are decent but don’t have near the attention to detail or showcase this level of technical prowess. It’s not just that it’s well-crafted, but there are moments that made me feel like I was watching something from Sundance. This is especially true with director Queeny Nguyen’s excellent eye at setting up scenes and driving tension. Her wise decision to change aspect ratios as well as how she plays with light and color are something I would expect to find from a more well-seasoned director.
The Dealer and his game of mancala is a lovely homage harkening back to the classic The Seventh Seal along with recent Sundance darling Rains over Babel with each showcasing a struggle for their character’s souls over a game of skill and chance.
On the acting front, both Macie and Steven are wonderful as the heart of the film. The two have easy chemistry together that neither feels forced nor fake. I don’t know them in real life, but it would be a surprise if they aren’t friends outside of this production.
Macie’s Bailey is also a strong foil to The Dealer who not only shows that she is his worthy adversary but also someone he will regret trifling with. She shows a fierce determination as she hurdles towards her inevitable climax while also allowing herself to be vulnerable as she works through life and her supernatural predicament.
Steven also excels as her trusted confidante who not only helps relieve some of the tension but also manages to be quite innocently cryptic and charming. He and Macie also feel like actual high school students and not as actors just playing the part which might sound odd since they ARE in high school, but it would have been easy to almost play them as caricatures which is a trope they evade.
I do have a few minor quibbles. There are some twists and turns that are telegraphed early on, and some of the cuts in between the dream and real world were too abrupt and linger on a black screen for a tiny bit too long. The final shot is also guilty of this as a fade to black as the camera pans would have felt like a more natural and organic capstone. That said, none of this detracted from my enjoyment, nor took the smile off my face.
Whispers proves that making a good film doesn’t require decades of experience or an MCU-level budget. Instead, it takes unending amounts of time, energy, and effort which is why more people don’t attempt them. But I wish they would because we need new voices in the industry who can approach projects with a fresh set of eyes. Talking to the students after the premiere, this will be a one-shot for some of them, but others have been bitten by the filmmaking bug and are excited to take on new challenges. If Whispers is any evidence on what the future holds for those taking this road, then I can’t wait to see what they accomplish. With this, they’ve proven they have the chops to make quality entertainment and can take their careers wherever they want them to go.
Whispers is playing a limited engagement at the Fat Cats in Bluffdale and Saratoga Springs until Thursday, May 22. Tickets are only $5, and proceeds will support the film program at Copper Hills High. You should definitely check it out!
