Dead Whisper (2024)
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Director: Conor Soucy
Stars: Samuel Dunning, Codey Gillum, Samantha Hill, Chris Goodwin, Bruce Winant
Plot: Elliot Campbell, a Cape Cod lawyer, is drawn to a mysterious island where he is tempted by a reunion with his dead daughter, but at the peril of his soul.
* * *
[♪♪]
[FLIES BUZZING]
[PHONE RINGING]
Yes? Hello?
Okay.
No.
What do you mean he hasn’t been to work in two days?
I don’t understand.
I called his sister two months ago.
I said I was concerned.
You’re telling me no one’s gone to check on him.
Yep.
I’ll head over now.
Yep. I’ll let you know.
[PHONE CLICKS]
[WIND HOWLING]
[DOOR CREAKS]
Jackson?
[CREAKING]
[♪♪]
Hello?
[FOOTSTEPS]
[HEAVY BREATHING]
[QUICK FOOTSTEPS]
[DOG WHIMPERING]
[DOG WHIMPERING CONTINUES]
[♪♪]
Jackson?
[GASPS]
[SOBS]
[OCEAN WAVES CRASHING]
[FERRY HORN BLOWING]
[FERRY HORN BLOWING]
[♪♪]
[GROANING]
[SIGHING]
How far out are you going today?
Far.
We’ll be back in port by tomorrow morning.
You want to trade places?
I can’t.
Why?
The bar exam.
The bar exam. Darn.
Oh, it’ll be good for you.
Hmm? What?
To put a suit on again.
[RUSTLING]
[DOOR CREAKS]
[CREAKING]
[GHOSTLY ECHOES]
[DISTORTED SCREAMING]
[ENGINE IDLING]
[WORKERS YELLING]
You still want to trade places?
Well, there’s a lot out there I don’t know about,
so land is just fine.
[LAUGHS]
I want to talk to you about something.
Okay. What’s that?
I haven’t really given up on the idea of…
Of what?
Trying again.
Elliot? What do you think?
I don’t want to replace her.
[OCEAN WAVES LAPPING]
MRS. REYNOLDS: Mr. Campbell?
Mr. Campbell?
Uh…
[CLEARS THROAT] I’m sorry.
Could you say that again?
Wouldn’t you fight? Fight for your child?
Yes. Well, I’ll need to do some digging of my own
and go over these–
These documents that you gathered.
MRS. REYNOLDS [STUTTERING]: I don’t understand.
You’re considering not taking us on?
Well, I’m… I’m weighing the strength of the case.
If you give me time to do that, then I can give you an answer.
Strength of the case?
Do you understand what we’ve been through?
What we’ve lost?
It was a poor choice of words.
I’m just explaining that it’s a process.
We took a two-and-a-half-hour-long
ferry ride from Nantucket
to make this meeting.
I-I know you did.
Gavin shaped this out to be a certain thing.
If he did say that, then he overstated.
He also said you were the best personal injury lawyer
Cape Cod had to offer.
“The man for the job.”
Did he overstate that too?
Mr. Reynolds, Mrs. Reynolds,
I think that we have just gotten off on the wrong foot here.
Oh… Jameson…
It’s a damn waste of time.
Come on.
Let me at least get the door for you.
No, no, that’s quite all right.
[DOOR CLOSES]
[SIGHS]
[CAR DOORS CLOSE, ENGINE STARTS]
[♪♪]
[SIGHS]
GAVIN: I stuck my neck out for you, Elliot.
You said you were back to yourself.
I know I did.
The Reynolds are very upset
about that meeting.
I wouldn’t have sent them your way
if it meant bruising my reputation.
Gavin, I will–
I’ll make it right.
And how’s that?
By drowning yourself in a bottle
and waking up in a cold sweat?
Look at you.
I can help them.
You could.
You could.
But man, we both know you are a damn good lawyer.
Not the person I used to be.
The night you found Willow and you called me.
WOMAN: Willow!
GAVIN: I rushed over.
I could see then what it did to you,
what it would do to you.
Despite what’s happened, there are things in this world
that you have to come back to.
Hell, even look forward to.
Maybe that’s not what I want.
To be happy?
You don’t understand.
Then help me.
This…
this pain that I have with me.
[SIGHS]
I mean, that’s all that I have left of her.
Elliot, please…
don’t bury yourself.
[♪♪]
[OCEAN WAVES LAPPING]
[ENGINES REVVING]
[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]
Hey, Elliot!
Yeah, I’ll see you tomorrow.
[OCEAN WAVES CRASHING]
[VOICES WHISPER]
[PHONE RINGS]
MRS. REYNOLDS [ON PHONE]: Hello?
ELLIOT: Hello? Uh, Mrs. Reynolds?
Is that you?
This is, um… This is Elliot Campbell.
This is she.
Well, I think I…
I owe you an apology.
Um…
The other day when you were– You were in here,
in my office and…
My behavior was unacceptable.
To be totally honest, I mean, you just–
You caught me at a bad time.
Um, I just wanted to say I’m sorry.
Thank you for the apology.
Of course, of course.
Mr. Campbell…
Yes?
We would be honored to have you represent us.
Really? That’s so great to hear.
Good.
So you’ll accept the case?
Yes, yes, yes. Absolutely.
And if you have anything for me,
feel free to fax it over here to my office.
We can do that.
Great.
Have a good day, Mr. Campbell.
ELLIOT: Goodbye.
[HANGS UP PHONE]
[CLOCK TICKING]
[♪♪]
[TICKING]
How in the world?
[SIGHS]
[FLOOR CREAKING]
[DOOR CREAKS]
[DOOR CREAKING]
[♪♪]
[BABY CRYING] [MUTTERS]
[HEAVY BREATHING]
Oh, what? What is it? Are you all right?
What? Yes, I’m fine. Are you?
Why– Why do you ask?
You were having some sort of nightmare.
Nightmare? Yeah.
No, no, no, I wasn’t having a nightmare.
I was…
dreaming about…
some place.
It’s like an…
oasis or something.
What do you mean an oasis?
I don’t know. It was just…
It was beautiful.
And Willow was…
Willow was there.
[TICKING]
[CLOCK TICKING CONTINUOUS]
[SIGHS]
[CHAIR SQUEAKS]
ELLIOT: And he is not wearing the state-mandated life jacket.
He liked…
Well, he liked sailing so…
[MUTTERING]
…put on the life jacket.
[GRUNTS]
[MUTTERS]
[CREAKING]
…local police.
[MUMBLING]
Threat to the…
[FLOOR CREAKING]
[CLOCK TICKING]
[BREATHES HEAVILY]
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[GRUNTS] [GLASS SHATTERS]
[DOOR CREAKS]
[♪♪]
[BREATHES HEAVILY]
[PHONE RINGING]
[RINGING CONTINUOUS]
[RINGING CONTINUOUS]
Hello?
GAVIN [ON PHONE]: Elliot. Is it you?
Gavin?
How did you know I was here?
Something isn’t right, Elliot.
Can’t you see that?
What’s– What’s not right?
You have to go now.
You have to handle the situation at hand.
Go where?
You have to see her.
Is this about the case?
I only want to help you.
I just want to give you purpose.
I-I-I don’t–
I don’t understand what you’re asking me to–
To visit the Reynolds?
Yes. Yes.
Yes, you should go.
Look, look, um…
I think, um…
Let’s, uh… let’s get together
and talk about this in person, okay?
Get together?
Yeah.
Meet somewhere.
Yes, let’s meet at the Shipwreck Lounge,
just off the pier’s main drag.
[SIGHS] Uh, okay.
When do you want to meet? [FOG HORN BELLOWS]
[PHONE LINE DISCONNECTS]
Gavin? [PHONE LINE CLICKS]
[♪♪]
[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]
[INAUDIBLE]
[ICE RATTLING]
Correct me if I’m wrong, son,
but it appears you require the comfort of a stiff drink.
I’m sorry. Do we know each other?
I couldn’t say.
The name’s Porter.
Does that sound familiar?
No, I-I guess not.
What about your name?
Elliot Campbell.
You are the local lawyer, aren’t you?
Yeah, that’s me.
This is a quaint community.
I’ve had a delightful time familiarizing myself with it.
You’re not from here?
I mean, to be honest, I…
I only had ever heard of this place
for the first time tonight.
The Shipwreck Lounge.
Yeah.
The original establishment closed
when its founder was lost at sea.
You see, I changed the name.
Good humor, bad taste.
Boulevardier is a divine beverage,
and I think it’s the perfect aperitif for you.
When you took a seat at my bar,
I saw something that a man in my profession sees all the time.
What?
An unrelenting weight on your shoulders,
the kind that cripples a good person.
The woman that was sitting down there, she was my–
No need to explain.
As proprietor here,
I see all the comings and goings.
I probably need another one.
[NERVOUS LAUGHTER]
Well, then, an establishment like this is not conducive
to a man with your condition.
Been trying to beat it.
You’ll beat it.
I’m sure of it.
Word of advice:
take a trip.
Someplace away from all these distractions.
A trip?
Yes. Sail away, if you will.
I may have to…
I may have to go to Nantucket for business.
It’s this important case that I’m working.
How perfect.
An opportunity to distance yourself
and confront this burden that you carry.
Yeah. Yeah.
It is an opportunity, isn’t it?
Mr. Campbell?
Elliot.
Are you willing to commit this journey
right here,
right now?
[SCOFFS]
I’m not sure, uh…
Would it not benefit you to rest with some clarity,
knowing that tomorrow will be a different day…
a different time,
a different place.
Yeah.
So we are in agreement then?
ELLIOT: Hmm.
On that note…
[LIQUID POURS]
…you’ve made the right decision, son.
Yeah, yeah. I think so.
A toast…
to getting away from it all.
To getting away from it all.
[GLASSES CLINK]
[♪♪]
[PATRONS CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY]
[SEAGULLS CAWING]
[BOAT HORN BLOWS]
[ENGINE RATTLING]
[♪♪]
[GASPS SOFTLY]
[METAL GROANING]
[BOAT HORN BLOWS]
[VOICES WHISPER]
[SEAGULLS CAWING]
[♪♪]
[GRASS RUSTLING]
[VOICES WHISPERING]
[WHISPERS CONTINUOUS]
[♪♪]
[VOICES WHISPERING CONTINUOUS]
Hello?
[WOMAN MUTTERING]
[WHISPERING] With me– With me– With me…
[GROANS]
[SIGHS]
[FAINT RATTLING]
[THUDDING]
[FAINT RATTLING CONTINUOUS]
[♪♪]
Where am I?
What exactly is it you’re doing?
[WHISPERS] Making the root.
MAN: The many questions you must have, my dear boy.
All of which will be answered in due time.
The root.
It’s a native plant to our island.
It can be used for medicinal purposes.
You’re…
You’re the bartender from the Shipwreck Lounge.
I’m afraid you have me mistaken for someone else.
I am the Historian.
But I–
Burdened by a sense of confusion.
Not to worry.
It’s a common symptom for those who trek
through the island dunes.
Our root carries a pungent odor.
When inhaled, its side effects can be hallucinatory.
The symptoms will fade in time.
Any good practitioner of the trait will tell you
that history is written by the victors.
And you would be wise to listen.
My collection, however,
keeps a record of the forgotten.
I’ve lived on the cape my entire life
and seen every lighthouse from Monomoy…
to Woods End.
But this place, I mean,
I’ve never seen anything like this place.
Ah, the sea is a veil for many secrets.
Few are privy.
How did you come to be here?
Did Elise not enlighten you?
She was brief.
[LAUGHS]
My fascinations required a convent
to conceal the work from prying eyes.
So I set sail, only to land on these sacred grounds.
I’m– I’m– I’m sorry,
but are you saying that you discovered this place?
[CHUCKLES]
Flattering, but, um,
things do not live and die by our field of vision.
Although, I will concede
that my greatest pride is being the first face
this island every saw.
ELLIOT: Look, I have an important case in Nantucket tomorrow.
I need arrangements made.
HISTORIAN: Yes, well, I’ve taken the liberty
of placing a call to Chief Mate G. Wick Smithsman.
There’ll be a private charter here to relieve you
of this inconvenience before nightfall.
Okay.
Like the old saying,
oceans are big, compasses are small,
and a man without knack for direction has nothing at all.
I’m sorry, uh, who said that exactly?
Sits with you, does it? A guest of mine.
Do you have many guests here?
That reminds me.
Would you sign your name for me?
It’s vital that I keep a record of all our guests.
I’m really, uh, no guest.
Anyone who sets foot in my home is my guest.
Hmm.
I understand.
A lawyer doesn’t put pen to paper
unless he produces the page.
Sorry, how do you know that I’m–
I tend to not listen to the mutterings of a subdued man.
But yours…
Far too interesting to ignore.
Ah, I hope you do not pass judgment
on early indulgences.
No, no, of course not.
My favorite beverage as of late.
It’s a… Boulevardier?
I like to save the liquored ice.
There can be good use in often discarded things.
Wait, Elise.
We must get him one.
No, no, that’s, that’s fine.
My boy!
You’ve got hours to spare.
In fact…
take mine.
As I told you before, you are my guest.
[BOISTEROUS LAUGHTER]
[BOTH COUGH]
ELLIOT: Oh! Oh, thank you. Thank you.
Okay. Where was I? Right.
Oh, oh.
So my dad says, before–
Before we even get into the boat, he says,
“Go against the current.”
He was a very stern guy.
Probably told us several times, but here we come.
[CHUCKLES]
So– So I push us off the rocks
and then the kayak already starts to turn.
And we’ve got the current just…
You know? Right up against our side like that.
And before you know it, we’ve done a whole 180 spin.
And…
she’s screaming, and I’m laughing
because we’re going backwards.
So then, you know, we flip.
Hmm.
She falls in and she’s… she’s panicking.
She’s terrified.
We didn’t have life jackets on.
And so she starts thrashing her arms around.
Clocks me.
Cracks me right here in the nose.
Yeah, but, um…
saved her life.
How?
Well, I told her…
“Stand up.”
Because we were in 4 feet of water.
[BOTH LAUGH]
Quite the punch line.
[LAUGHING]
Stand up.
It’s funny how time flies like that.
Speaking of time…
No, that can’t be right.
Says that it’s 10:30 at night.
[GASPS]
You must tell me more about this woman, Dottie.
Ahem, we– We, uh… we married young.
We were high school sweethearts.
And I trust all is in good standing?
Actually, I, um…
I saw her at a bar with someone else.
That is peculiar.
And how did you see her?
I followed her.
No.
I mean how?
They were being…
physical.
Hmm. Physical.
Dare I say carnal in nature?
Bless your soul.
Though in many ways,
it is a fitting conclusion.
[STUTTERING] What do you mean?
Only from what you mentioned.
About your baby.
I told you that?
You told me everything.
That’s right.
I used to be a dad.
A father, a husband, a son.
Just words.
Have very little meaning here.
Don’t…
Do not be wary of what you confide in me, Elliot.
I… I believe we share a covenant of sorts.
[WHISPERS]
I apologize, but I must momentarily
excuse myself from our delightful discussion.
Is everything all right?
Why, yes.
Everything is exactly as it should be.
[OCEAN WAVES LAP DISTANTLY]
[VOICES WHISPERS]
[♪♪]
[GASPS]
[MUFFLED CLASSICAL MUSIC]
[WOMAN LAUGHING FAINTLY]
[♪♪]
[DOOR CREAKING]
[BAROQUE MUSIC PLAYING]
[MUSIC DISTORTING]
Elise?
[STATIC CRACKLING, DISTORTED MUSIC]
[MUSIC STOPS, STATIC CRACKLES]
[FLOOR CREAKING]
[ELLIOT GASPS]
[SCREAMS]
[ELLIOT GASPS]
[COUGHING]
[VOICES WHISPERING]
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[TAPPING]
HISTORIAN: I do regret the manner of your arrival, Elliot.
It was unkind for you to be abandoned to the dunes.
Know that I will speak with your guide about this debacle.
Enough lies!
You drugged me.
Do you think I wish to hurt you?
Oh, that saddens me.
What was in that drink?
The root in its native elixir perform many wonders.
Medicine, medicine, medicine.
Sadly, the path through healing is often riddled by pain.
Stay away from me. Stay away from me!
When you first arrived, Elliot,
I found you bleeding into a stone.
I was confused by your hesitancy,
for it was you that called to me.
No, no, no, no, I never wanted anything from you!
I turned to Elise and even stated aloud,
“This is not he.
“The one we’ve so anxiously been waiting,
the one summoned to join the fold.”
You brought me here. You brought me here.
You’re the…
You’re the man from the Shipwreck Lounge!
[IN DISTORTED VOICE] A fish out water, eh?
I am the one that plucked you out.
But with commitment and openness,
you will find understanding,
and a new home,
here with your new family,
like our darling Elise did.
Stay back.
I don’t want to have to hurt you.
[SIGHS] Elliot.
When you cast that photograph of dear Willow into the sea,
you whispered a desire I will not soon forget.
My daughter is dead.
Death is but a subject of time.
This is a timeless place, and I its keeper.
Oh, you didn’t die
with the memory of your child, Elliot.
Come now.
Come now and live by it.
[GASPS]
[WHEEZING]
[COUGHING]
[CHOKING]
I’m sorry.
[DEMONIC LAUGHTER]
[PANTING]
[GRUNTS AND GROANS]
[VOICES WHISPERING]
[WHISPERING VOICES CONTINUOUS]
[WIND GUSTING]
[WHISPERING VOICES CONTINUOUS]
[♪♪]
[PANTING]
[♪♪]
[VOICES WHISPERING]
[WHISPERING CONTINUOUS]
What is it, my dear boy?
You mustn’t say it.
You must whisper it.
[DEMONIC LAUGHTER]
[WAVES CRASHING]
[CREAKING]
[SCRAPING]
[GRUNTING]
[BABY CRYING DISTANTLY]
[CRYING GROWING LOUDER]
[WIND GUSTING]
[VOICES WHISPERING]
[DOOR CREAKING]
[WOMAN, SOBBING] Willow!
[PANTING] Willow!
[WOMAN SCREAMING]
[♪♪]
[WOMAN SOBBING LOUDLY]
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[WOMAN CRYING CONTINUES]
WOMAN [WHISPERING]: Elliot?
Why would you leave me in here alone?
Uh, I didn’t.
I was with you through all of it.
But you left.
You didn’t come back.
I never should have gone.
Before you left it. I had something to tell you.
Something important.
[WHISPERS] Yes. It’s a secret.
You can tell me now.
HISTORIAN: I hear…
everything.
[GASPS]
[PANTING]
[ELLIOT SCREAMS]
Dottie, Dottie, Dottie!
Dottie, wait! Dottie, wait!
[♪♪]
[FAINT WHISPERING]
[FAINT WHISPERING CONTINUOUS]
HISTORIAN: Son.
For years I would come here, standing where you stand now,
alluded by the thought of my late mother.
You see, time made her distant from me.
An entire life, a history, washed away.
Are you familiar with that outcome?
ELLIOT: Yes.
HISTORIAN: Give it a closer look.
[ELLIOT GASPS]
ELLIOT: It’s like I suddenly just became so aware of…
HISTORIAN: Our impermanence.
[ELLIOT BREATHING SHAKILY]
[VOICES WHISPERING]
[VOICES WHISPERING]
[DEMONIC LAUGHTER]
HISTORIAN: Do you see now?
Do you see now what happens
when you cease to exist?
Nothing.
HISTORIAN: Yes!
You’re abandoned to the sea.
[SCOFFS]
But they care very little.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Was it real?
It was real.
Only I have been there,
an unbiased, unrelenting presence,
whispering in your ear
from the time you felt the darkness.
What are you?
You’ve been adrift for far too long, Elliot.
And where the drowned body rises,
the soul is consumed by the sea.
I want to go back.
I want to go back. I want to go back!
There is only one door you can take,
the one in which you entered.
Please.
Do not fret, my boy.
I am here to give you purpose.
I offer the familiarity
you have strayed from,
the comfort you have longed for,
the mirror you have sought to see!
All you have to do is take the key.
I believe there is a familiar face
waiting for you.
Familiar?
[♪♪]
[SLAMS PEN DOWN]
My name, um…
I seem to have forgotten my name.
On the contrary…
your name has just been added.
[♪♪]
[HISTORIAN LAUGHING DEMONICALLY]
[GASPING FAINTLY]
[GASPING SOFTLY]
[WHEEZING]
[♪♪]
[OCEAN WAVES CRASHING DISTANTLY]
[FOOTSTEPS]
[♪♪]
[BABY COOING]
[BABY COOING CONTINUOUS]
[♪♪]
[GRASS RUSTLING]
[WIND GUSTING]
ELLIOT [WHISPERING]: It’s okay.
I love you so much.
I love you so much, Willow.
I’ll never leave you again.
I’ll never leave you again.
I’m back.
Daddy’s here. Daddy’s here forever.
Forever and ever.
[♪♪]
[♪♪]
