User reviews

Christopher Crowe was a director who really intrigued me, where I loved Saigon, with all that original great dialogue, if only with all that self consciousness that hampered it. Amazingly here, this psychological thriller, is constructed all the same way with those red herrings, and the guy suiciding, case closed, killer dead, two thirds of the way through. Only again, annoyingly it bites us in the ass, where our jumper wasn't the killer. Quite annoyingly here, I'm saying for those who have seen Saigon. Like that one, I really find this one entertaining as f..k too. WITD which missed a cinema run, is only heightened by it's really good and surprising performances, though Hawkeye's Alda was obviously miscast, flat, where Paglia is fun as a dubious and nosey detective, with a lot of issues. Sciorra (Internal Affairs) is really good as a New York psychiatrist, plagued by this recurring dream previewed throughout the balsy sexy opening, played against a beautiful mellow romantic score, where two nude figures, who remain faceless, are fornicating. She entrusts old family friend/psychiatrist, Leo (the plain banal Alda) who has more on his mind than psychiatry, while also getting off on a beautiful female patient's story, where later, this poor girl becomes the murder victim. By this time, Sciorra has become a prime murder suspect, as having, taken up an affair with the victim's ex, an avid pilot (Jamie Sheridan) a real likable performance. Not only that, the late victim, had stolen some of her files which makes for some juicy reading. Another big suspect is one of her patients (Leguizamo) as a troubled artist, with a known history for sexually abusing and battering woman, where we see first hand, some frank photos. This is the sleaze element of the film, but it doesn't mar that at all, as it's down in style. I don't know why, but I really find this film an entertaining watch, as a viewing it several times. As for violence inferred, apart from the sexual, there's hardly any blood letting, some shown in lesser or no detail, like in long shots. A guilty fun moment is the end, and leading up to that where the sick f..k killer, who I never picked in my first viewing, reveals himself. I always thought it was stupid though to leave those incriminating out in the open and not locked up. There's a lot of interesting and different touches as to characters, occupations, and their troubles. Deborah Kara Unger is hot too, in her sexy confronting disrobe, while great character actor Anthony 'Doctor Chilton' appears in a limited number of scenes, as Sciorra's old self centered, if pathetic, boyfriend. WITD is a 'with' it 90's sexual psychological thriller drama, with style. It has an interesting script, and obviously deserves much more credit than it's given, as well as being a respected thriller/drama.

A pretty standard mystery thriller, but absorbing nonetheless. The sometimes impossibly contrived plot is chock-full of strange coincidences and red herrings, but the film is so competently and professionally made that you can ignore the script's weaknesses and enjoy the work of a director who seems to have a genuine feel for the genre. Most of the performances are also very good, giving weight to their roles and making the movie more respectable. (**1/2)

Wow, who'd thought it. A 90's underground thriller with unknown cast and title; nobody would expect a big thing out of it. But that's when we're wrong.

This film is hugely entertaining; the story develops very quickly and intensely, the writer/director is really professional on how to get the spectator. The story is original and unpredictable, you never know what is gonna happen next. The outcome is the most impossible to guess, I really doubt anyone can find it out before the last 15 minutes. The whole thing is similar to "Never Talk To Strangers", both have a great twist in the end. It's really such a shame that there aren't even 1000 voters on this title's page, this film deserved to be much more recognized. See it if you like an intense suspense!

Edit: I have to complaint about Brazilian's title. They translated it to something like "Whispers of Pleasure", and I saved this film on my television after it was on a cable channel. My parents saw it's title and surely thought I recorded some kind of porn, when actually it was just a thriller.

Entertaining story. But hopefully it's not indicative of the world of psychiatry. Some real on-the-edge folks here. Even the police lieutenant is a ripe candidate for analysis - though to judge from the film you wonder if analysis accomplishes anything useful.

For the most part good acting work put in by a first rate cast. Leave the analyzing to the movie and enjoy the ride.

Earth to whomever? This movie is fiction. Like fiction on the silver screen, TV, or a book, it is not meant to educate. It is meant to entertain. Anyone failing to grasp this fundamental truth should not rent this movie or watch TV or watch 99% of the movies ever made. They should, instead, watch documentaries.

Of course the killer is obvious from the beginning. He and the other actors turn in average (at best) performances.

Annabella Sciorra was 28 when this movie was made. She was a good choice for an entertaining movie. Yes, she would "supernova" in The Hand That Rocks The Cradle when compared to this movie. Yet that means not that her performance was poor; indeed, she shines in Whispers In The Dark.

Overall it is an enjoyable movie for those that realize that fiction is almost always predictable when it appears in a movie.

It entertains, and that is what it should do.

This turned out to be a very sleazy movie. Everybody but Annabella Sciorra's character ("Ann Hecker") talks and acts like a pig. Actually, "Hecker" isn't of the highest character, herself, but at least she doesn't talk like trash. Too bad veterans actors Alan Alda and Jill Clayburgh have to join the sleaze crowd, although the latter certainly was no angel in her 1970s films. Anthony LaPaglia was ridiculously profane but that was normal for his movie characters. He only settled down in recent years when he began starring a television show.

Despite the gutter mentality of this story (it isn't just the language), the movie zips along after a slow start and kept your attention. However, it isn't anything memorable, nor recommended.

This was a different look for Sciorra: no New York City accent and a different hairstyle. I almost didn't know it was her. Jamey Sheridan, who now contributes to the hit TV show, "Law and Order: Criminal Intent," also stars, as does the always-strange John Leguizamo.

"Whispers in the Dark" follows a New York psychiatrist (Annabella Sciorra) who becomes embroiled in a murder mystery after one of her troubled patients, Eva (Deborah Unger) is killed mysteriously.

One of the many erotic thrillers spurred by the early '90s, "Whispers in the Dark" is a fairly deflated attempt at that subgenre which succeeds in some regards but probably fails in more. The screenplay has some decent raw ideas, though it does not really reach the boiling point that it should in the last act.

One of the biggest problems with the film is its uninspired performances. There are good, even great actors here, but most of them seem disconnected from the material, and the vast majority of the performances are limp and lifeless--even Annabella Sciorra, Alan Arkin, and Jill Clayburgh seem bored, and Jamey Sheridan is especially awful as the male lead. Anthony LaPaglia is somewhat memorable as the aggressive detective, but he is given very little to do. The two standouts here are Deborah Unger, who truly steals the show, and John Leguizamo, each appearing in early performances in their respective careers as Sciorra's disturbed patients. Their performances make the film worth seeing. Everyone else... not so much.

Uninspired acting aside, there is some fun to be had here for those who have a nostalgia for early-'90s thrillers. Despite its faults, I will admit the film is reasonably entertaining, but it must be taken entirely on its own terms. It is not extreme enough to have a campy appeal, nor do the stakes ever feel high enough for the audience to really take it all that seriously. All in all, this is a fairly lukewarm thriller. It is not terrible, but it is certainly undistinguished among its peers. Watch it for Unger and Leguizamo. 6/10.

This is a tacky, low-grade mystery film that is far better acted than most of its kind. It's about a lady psychiatrist with some really messed-up patients who gets caught up in a murder mystery when one patient becomes a suspect. Nearly all of the characters in this story are serious head cases. One hopes no major city has a preponderance of people like that. A lot of twists and turns occur in the story. A few of them are compelling, most of them improbable. Some genuinely talented actors were rounded up to appear in this film. Largely as a result, the film is watchable, but it's just as miss-able. Only die hard fans of murder mysteries will enjoy this film.

I'm glad I stayed up to watch this one - I'd actually turned on the television to watch the previous movie that night and fortunately decided to keep on the same channel. I wasn't familiar with any of the cast before this movie, but the script was well written and the actors portrayed all the characters well.

This is definitely a movie where you have to keep your brain switched on to "thinking" mode to enjoy properly. Hardly surprising when almost all the characters are psychiatrists, detectives or patients on the therapists couch. The main theme of the movie is what happens when love is blind and you trust your instincts rather than the sober voices of friends around you. In a rather chilling twist, you are also made to consider just how much you should trust your friends who may have their own ulterior motives behind their apparent concern.

I along with, I imagine, most people watching this movie had the ending all figured out in my head - or so I thought until one of the best twists I can think of in a thriller - and was just waiting to see how and when they were going to prove me correct. I was, of course, completely wrong and a dramatic turn of events towards the end made this a thoroughly enjoyable movie which left me analysing the analysts long after the final credits had rolled. For those who enjoy this genre, I would highly recommend "Whispers In The Dark". I rated it at 8 out of 10 after one viewing, although I may have to watch again to decide if I should have rated it a 9. Definitely worth a night in.

Psychiatrist Ann Hecker (Annabella Sciorra) has two particular patients; artist John Castillo (John Leguizamo) and sexually adventurous Eve Abergray (Deborah Kara Unger). Sarah Green (Jill Clayburgh) and her husband Leo (Alan Alda) are her colleagues. She's Leo's patient since 7 years ago as a medical student. She wants to break up with her boyfriend Paul (Anthony Heald) but he beats her to the punch by moving out. She goes out with new guy pilot Doug McDowell (Jamey Sheridan). She goes to spy on Eve and find Eve's S&M boyfriend turns out to be Doug. Eve explodes after discovering her relationship with Doug. Eve steals her files and then she finds Eve murdered. Police detective Larry Morgenstern (Anthony LaPaglia) investigates.

It's an erotic thriller that tries too hard with the cheesy eroticism. It's slow moody music with fuzzy sex dreams. The whole thing moves like molasses. Christopher Crowe is not as good as a director. It doesn't have enough tension. The subject matter is intense and should translate better onto the screen. The movie turns into a nice murder mystery midway through. It gets better going away from the silly eroticism turning into a twisty mystery. There is probably one too many twist but that seems like it was setting up that move from the start. Sciorra's role has some juicier acting choices later on. It's too bad that the first half is so tired.

This is actually a rather dull film for the most part---the red herrings are preposterous and uninteresting and the sexuality never goes beyond cheap titillation. It hints at more interesting things and nine times out of ten it punks out at exploring those intriguing themes, going for the cheap thrill every opportunity. And it's not that thrilling, period.

But the ending is amazing. It kept me laughing for weeks after I'd seen the movie. So ludicrous and out of nowhere it comes off like a bad joke, or incomparable idiocy. It still makes me giggle every time I think about it. I can barely type right now.

See this movie for the last thirty minutes. It's worth it.

This movie is way too overstuffed with all kinds of arcs. It tries to be too much at once and becomes overwhelmed by it. It not necessarily schlocky at first (though kinda :D), but howevber you'd describe it, it becomes schlockier and schlockier in the last 30 minutes. And more and more predictable. But ends effectively and satisfyingly enough.

The movie has a great cast, who all give at least very good performances. Damn good across the board, especially on LaPaglia's side.

Music, cinematography and general style are all really good, as well. Sounds dull, but there's not much else to say than that.

It's just a really well-executed movie based on a kinda weak and contrived script. So if you like 90s thrillery things with eroticism it's at least a decent guilty pleasure.

Dr Ann - Annabella Sciorra - is a shrink with a varied practice. A beautiful female patient is visiting twice a week because of her boyfriends sexual demands. In increasing fashion, he wants to have sex in unusual places, often with her wrists tied. The patient is enjoying these episodes yet is frightened, too. Dr Ann is not sure how to guide her but is intrigued as well. Ann's breaking up with her current boyfriend and takes solace in longtime friend and mentor, Leo - Alan Alda. Then, Ann meets an attractive man named Doug who excites her very much. She is stunned to learn, by happenstance, that his first wife killed herself. Then, her beautiful patient also commits suicide. Morever, Doug may be the same guy who was romancing her, too. Is Ann in danger ? This is a sleazy thriller with sex and twisted deaths. Yes, Sciorra is beautiful and the supporting cast quite fine. But, the plot elements left a sour impression on this viewer. You decide if its worth a look.

Lots of big name actors. My cable preview only listed the shrink and her lover. A very young John Leguzamo had a very good part. It was rather suspenseful at the beginning but quickly became kind of trite. The kind where I kiddingly say to my husband "You didn't know I wrote this screenplay did you?" (Because we guess what is going to happen) Just a couple of twists I didn't figure out ahead of time.

This is worth watching just for the ending, it is rather laughable. Nice to see Annabella Sciorra not flinging meat at the back of anybodies head like she did in the "Sopranos"!! And where have I seen her lover before? Looks like he played on a cop show.

I saw this movie about 2 years ago expecting an erotic thriller. What I got was Alan Alda, who is only believable as Hawkeye Pierce on M*A*S*H , wasting his talent along with John Leguizamo and others on CRAP!! This movie made no sense at all.. I urge anyone who was thinking of seeing this movie NOT to waste the 3 dollar rental fee.

In New York, the psychiatrist Ann Hecker (Annabella Sciorra) has her office in the Fifth Avenue and is treating the artist John Castillo (John Leguizamo), who has violent sexual desires, and the gallery owner Eve Abergray (Deborah Unger), who loves to make kinky sex with her lover. Her best friends are the lawyer Sarah Green (Jill Clayburgh) and her husband Leo Green (Alan Alda), who was a former professor and mentor of Ann and now is Ann's psychoanalyst. When Ann meets the pilot Doug McDowell (Jamey Sheridan), she dates him and falls in love with him. But soon she learns that Doug is the mysterious lover of Eve. When she discover Ann's affair with Doug, Eve goes haywire, breaks into Ann's office and steals several tapes of her clients. Ann tells to Sarah and Leo and they hire a lawyer to Ann. She decides to meet Eve to recover her tapes and when Ann arrives at Eve's house, she finds her client hanged and dead. Now the abusive NYPD detective Larry Morgenstern (Anthony LaPaglia) investigate the murder case and suspects of Doug and John.

"Whispers in the Dark" is still a great and erotic thriller from 1992. Annabella Sciorra and Deborah Unger were beautiful women in the 90's and they two make the erotic scenes work very well. The plot has man twists and a surprising conclusion, when the identity of the killer and his motives are disclosed. Unfortunately, this movie was only released on VHS in Brazil with a ridiculous title. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Gemidos de Prazer" ("Groans of Pleasure")

If you have seen New York themed movies that are enthralling, "Marathon Man" was suspenseful, but "Whispers in the Dark", is erotic and enthralling at the same time. Here you have a psychiatrist(Annabella Sciorra) who is having dreams of her own while she tends to her clients. She would meet Doug(Jamey Sheridan) who is a pilot. One of the clients, Eve(Deborah Unger) explain explicitly about her dreams to her. In one of the sessions, Eve would strip down and nearly exposes herself to the doctor. Very raw there. At the lunch scene, Dr. Ann Hecker discovered that Doug was also Eve's other lover. Dr. Hecker has a shrink, Dr. Green(Alan Alda). He has been with her since she was in medical school. He has helped her out in many ways, only to find out that he is a questionable reputation. I don't know why this movie was cut down. Some parts were on the obvious side, other than that, I enjoyed it very much. Not the best movie, but not the worst. It has a great cast though. Very watchable 2 out of 5 stars

Whispers in the Dark has been mostly forgotten as far as early 90's erotic thrillers are concerned and some of that is for good reason. While the concept is strong and the actors are great (Annabella Sciorra and Deborah Unger being the standouts), the film's pacing ebbs and flows a bit too much and the film is never as sexy as it wants to be.

It is memorable for it's completely off the wall last act which turns what has been a fairly down to earth thriller into something that wouldn't be out of place in a teenage slasher film with wine bottles smashed over people's heads and seaside chases with gardening instruments.