An anthology film from Australia. Most will have heard of stars like Asher Keddie, and some will know names like Andrea Demetriades and Anthony LaPaglia. They all feature in this wraparound anthology film from women filmmakers across Australia. Dark Whispers is an anthology movie with ten short films all tied together by the main character.
Dark Whispers Vol 1
The first story in Dark Whispers begins with Clara, who is reading a book passed down from her mother. Each chapter marks a new story, and it becomes obvious straight away that the book is bringing some of its inherent spookiness into the present time. As she begins to read ‘The Birthday Girl, ‘ a story about a little girl haunting her grieving mother, the door to her apartment swings shut.
The Man Who Caught A Mermaid + Gloomy Valentine
“The Man Who Caught a Mermaid” follows next. A seemingly harmless man with a fixation on capturing a mermaid finally proves everyone wrong. When his discovery won’t eat, he takes drastic measures to try and keep his prized possession alive. As the film comes to a close and returns to Clara and her book, she hears a screeching in the pipes coming from her kitchen.
Undeterred, she moves on to “Gloomy Valentine.” If you’re a fan of stop motion, this particular story might just be your very favorite. A sad and forlorn dark-haired woman sighs as she’s tormented by a shadowy presence. As she remembers happier times, the tale quickly turns dark, and by the time the film returns to Clara in the safety of her apartment, she has finally decided to put the book down for a little break, reminded of her own loss.
Watch Me + Story Time
“Watch Me” speaks to the current trend of being online at all times. A woman is the star of an online phenomenon where people watch her every minute of every second of every day. Subsequently, it’s at this point that the book Clara is reading begins to beckon her instead of waiting patiently for her to continue to read. It dives straight into a sepia and low-colored indigenous film called “Story Time.” Monsters abound here, and children discover that folklore should be respected at all times.
The Ride + White Song
“The Ride” is a short film starring Anthony LaPaglia starring in a tale of morals. A respin to the classic, “What would you do?” scenario. For a film with a really strong cast, it adds only a slight snippet of entertainment amidst beautiful landscapes. Meanwhile, Clara is quite freaked out, and the anthology speeds on to a twisted narration about life and loss. A vengeful spirit can be called on to ease a human’s suffering with “White Song.”
Grillz + Little Share House of Horrors
In a quick change of pace and theme, the book switches up to a modern tale set in black and white. A woman sits in bed messaging randoms. With a title like “Grillz”, one could only imagine that the ensuing close-up of the woman’s overly large teeth would come into play at some point. Fortunately, it’s not long before the gist of the story unfolds. Following on from this comes another monster-within-type story that begins in a nursery for plants. A couple of stoners learn the hard way that you are what you eat in “Little House of Horrors.”
The Intruder Wraps Up Dark Whispers Vol 1
Immediately following is “The Man Who Caught a Mermaid,” a surreal yet deeply unnerving entry that explores obsession, delusion, and control. On the surface, it tells of a seemingly harmless man whose strange fixation on catching a mermaid turns all too real, only for his fantasy to sour when the creature refuses to eat. His escalating desperation mirrors real-world headlines in 2025 about the dangers of unchecked obsession, whether in toxic fandom, parasocial relationships, or AI-driven fantasies that blur the line between reality and desire.
The mermaid here feels less like a mythical being and more like a symbol of autonomy denied, reflecting broader cultural conversations about consent and exploitation. When his methods to keep her alive grow darker, the story becomes not only about his downfall but also a cautionary tale about the extremes people reach to maintain control over something, or someone, that was never theirs to claim.
The Dark Whispers anthology uses the storm not just as a backdrop but as a metaphor for the uncontrollable fear women face when their private space is violated, echoing debates happening now about digital privacy, harassment, and how society responds to repeat offenders. By the time the short ends, it leaves a lasting unease, not just about the intruder in the story, but about how such threats remain disturbingly relevant today.
Closing with Clara’s Story
As the anthology folds back to Clara and her mysterious book, the final pages are tinged with dread. The sudden screeching in the pipes of her kitchen serves as both a literal soundscape of horror and a metaphor for the unseen pressures building beneath the surface. In 2025, with constant global anxieties about environmental collapse, infrastructure failures, and even the fragility of our digital systems, the moment feels pointedly current.
Just as Clara realizes the stories she has been reading bleed into her own reality, the audience is reminded how horror in Dark Whispers, much like the issues dominating today’s news cycle. These stories lurk in the background, waiting for the right moment to make themselves heard. The anthology closes not with relief, but with an echo of unease that lingers long after the credits roll.
- Here: For the Final Girls Berlin Film Festival website
- The Final Girls Berlin Film Festival runs from 6th – 9th February, and 2020 kicked off with Dark Whispers, an Australian Anthology movie
- What to watch next: 2024 thriller anthology Realm of Shadows or The Mortuary Collection.
- If you’re looking for an anthology in a similar vein, watch: Dui Shaw or Creepshow.
- Filming locations – Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (segment “White Song”).
