Published Feb 6, 2026, 9:00 AM EST
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[Editor's note: The following contains major spoilers for Whistle.]
Summary
- In the horror movie 'Whistle,' an ancient Aztec death whistle summons the teens' future deaths, and no attempt to stop it seems to work.
- Ellie and Chrys grow close amid terrifying events, finding hope and an earned happy ending together.
- On set, the whistle was treated like a sacred object, shoots were grueling, and practical gore made scenes brutal.
The horror flick Whistle follows the terrifying events that occur after a group of high school students blow an ancient Aztec Death Whistle that summons their future deaths to hunt them down. Any effort they make to stop what they’ve set in motion fails as they keep meeting gruesome fates. As Chrys (Dafne Keen) and Ellie (Sophie Nélisse) work to uncover the origins of the artifact in the hope that they will discover a way to survive it, they also grow closer and find things in their imperfections that they admire about each other.
During this one-on-one interview with Collider, Nélisse discussed how the whistle was treated like a sacred object on set, that she and Keen were able to rely on each other to laugh their way through the wildest moments of the shoot, what makes Chrys so appealing to Ellie, shooting one of the bloodiest scenes, and working for a happy ending. She also talked about the whirlwind of success and attention that’s surrounded Heated Rivalry, her own love for co-stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, and whether we’ll see Rose Landry return for Season 2, as well as her bittersweet feelings about Yellowjackets coming to an end with its upcoming final season.
Collider: The thought of an artifact that summons your death seems terrifying. Are you the type of person that would blow the whistle that’s in the film or watch the tape in The Ring, or are you someone without those sorts of curiosities?
SOPHIE NÉLISSE: I feel like I’m 50/50. I definitely am the one that, when I watch a horror movie, and they open the door and go down the steps, I’m like, “Don’t do that! We all know where that’s going to lead you.” So, I think I wouldn’t, but I do think that I’m someone a bit curious and maybe I would be strongly tempted.
"I think they were something like $30,000 each to make."
Image via IFC and ShudderWhat was it like to have that death whistle around on set? When it had to be in a scene, did you guys play with it? Were you creeped out by it?
NÉLISSE: There was a running joke on set where we were like, “Do we try to blow it or do we not?” And then, in a scene that we had to, we were like, “Wait, but what if we don’t? Because what if this actually summons our death?” It was actually so expensive to make, we’ve come to learn. I think they were something like $30,000 each to make. Corin [Hardy], our director, was like, “Literally hold onto this like it’s your life,” so it brought even more attention to the object, and it really felt like this sacred piece of material that we had to worship and were also terrified of. Whenever its presence was on set, we were obviously on higher alert.
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To get into spoilers, over the course of the story, we’re not only learning about who Chrys is and what’s happened in her past, but we’re seeing a relationship grow between Chrys and Ellie. What was it like to figure that relationship out with Dafne Keen at the same time that they’re in these life-or-death circumstances? It’s hard to really get to know somebody with all of that going on.
NÉLISSE: Dafne and I got so close, literally from the get-go. I remember trying to do rehearsals on the first day. We met with Corin, and we just kept bantering off of each other. Corin was trying to keep us serious, and we were both just like, “But this, and but this!” And then, he was like, “Honestly, I give up. You two have that relationship already. I can already see Ellie and Chrys in both of you. Nevermind rehearsals, I think the chemistry is there already.” It was really fun because we shared a very similar sense of humor, and I think it’s definitely something that you need to cherish in shoots like this. Not cherish, but I can’t find the word. When something is sacred, and you want to [protect it]. It was very precious to us that we shared that banter. It helped us get through those crazy night shoots when we were up literally until 7am, freezing outside and just going through the most traumatic scenes. We had that core friendship between takes and between setups, which really kept us going because we would just laugh about the craziest things.
"She’s everything that Ellie’s never been able to be."
After Chrys explains just how screwed up she is to Ellie, Ellie kisses her. Why do you think Ellie is drawn to Chrys in the way that she is? Do you think that she still would have been so drawn to her if all of this hadn’t been happening? Do you think that heightens and brings out feelings she might not have expressed?
NÉLISSE: I think she definitely would have. I think what drew her to Chrys was that Chrys is unapologetically herself. Ellie has always been someone that’s had a set future and a precise goal in mind and is somewhat of a people-pleaser. She has her priorities in the right place, and she wants the best for everyone, but still maybe has forgotten a bit of herself in her life process. And to meet someone like Chrys, who just knows what she wants and stands up for herself, is so refreshing. It shatters Ellie’s way of seeing life, but for the best. I think that despite the traumatic circumstances that they’re undergoing, there’s just something so beautiful that she sees in Chrys. To her, she’s exactly the opposite of broken or unsalvageable or everything that Chrys believes about herself. To Ellie, she’s the exact opposite. She’s everything that Ellie’s never been able to be. I think they’re the perfect contrast, and they bring out the best in each other.
By the time that things get down to Ellie, Chrys and Rel, they start to learn about what it could take for them to possibly stop their death from coming for them. But then, there’s this moment when Rel is trying to swap himself out for somebody else and things get very bloody. What was that like to shoot? Was there blood spraying everywhere? How was it to figure that moment out and was some of that done practically?
NÉLISSE: It definitely was. There were a lot of visual effects, but also a lot of it was material on set and being in blood and prosthetics and with a fake chopped-off arm. It was also one of the coldest nights ever in Toronto, and we were doing shoots until 8am, and we were so delirious, which helped us tap into that. We were just losing it because we were so exhausted, so we definitely tapped into that. But it was fun. Something fun about horror movies is that you get to be able to step out of your comfort zone like that. What I love about this job is that there’s nothing like it. Not everyone gets to wake up and be like, “Today, what I’m going to have to do is lay on this freezing ground while I cry my eyes out, and you dump buckets of ice-cold water on me.” It’s so unpredictable. It’s so unlike any other job. I think that’s what keeps me on my toes and keeps my life entertaining.
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I actually really liked that Ellie and Chrys were happy and living in the moment with each other at the end of this. That really felt earned after everything that they went through. How did you feel about that, about the way that things ended, and how it came together for them? Were you happy that they got to be happy, even if it is only for however many moments?
NÉLISSE: Yeah, it’s very short-lived. If you want horror, this is the movie where you get it because there are a few moments of levity and relief. Obviously, they deserve it. You see them work so hard this entire movie. I think it’s so beautiful because, to me, it reminds me of the scene in Hunger Games where they both go to eat the berry. It’s the ultimate act, in this movie, of being so selfless and just caring so much for one another that you’re willing to put your own life at risk. So, when I got to see that all of those efforts weren’t for nothing and that they would get the happy ending that they deserve, I was thrilled.
The Overnight Success of ‘Heated Rivalry’ Has Blown the Mind of Sophie Nélisse
"I love that I’m able to watch the show as a fan."
You’re also in the TV series that everyone has been talking about, with Heated Rivalry. Obviously, nobody could have expected just how big that was going to be and all the love that there would be for it. I thought it was really interesting to see how, along with Shane Hollander and Ilya Rosanova, viewers really loved Rose Landry. What was it like for you to see the reaction to the series, to see it building every week, and to see how fans felt about your character? What most surprised you about all of that?
NÉLISSE: The overnight success has really blown my mind. I don’t think I’ve ever really seen anything like it. For me, I love that people care for my character, but I’m not as obviously central as Hudson [Williams] and Connor [Storrie]. I’m truly their biggest fan. I adore them. I adore Jacob [Tierney], the director. This entire shoot was a love fest of just people being so passionate and so genuine. I stepped into production when they had already been shooting for two months, and there’s always that weird feeling of like, “I don’t really belong here. They already have all of their inside jokes and stuff.” And they welcomed me with such open arms, and I felt like I belonged, immediately.
It’s something so special that Hudson has truly become one of my greatest friends and is someone that I feel like I can pick up the phone and call anytime. He’s one of the most caring and compassionate [people], and Connor is so soft and gentle. The chemistry that you see in the show is really what it was on set. I feel like I’m their biggest cheerleader, and I’m so happy that they’re getting the recognition that they deserve. I love that I’m able to watch the show as a fan. I remember when it started coming out because I hadn’t really seen anything, and I was watching it and sending, in the group chat, so many voice messages. I would literally gasp and scream and cry while watching it. It’s been really fun to be able to receive the show and love it like the audience has.
And as for Rose, I love her. When Jacob offered me this character, I was like, “Absolutely!” because I think everyone needs a Rose in their life. Whether it’s about you trying to come out, or come to terms with your sexuality or who you are, we all need that one person that feels like a safe space but also has that edge that will give us that push that we need, that we can’t fully commit to. You could just see how caring [she is]. She has the biggest heart, and she’s so genuine and so easy to love. I fell in love with her immediately. So, to see people’s response and how they love her as well and also just being an ally to the gay community is always an honor. Whenever I can step into a character that offers that, I just feel very lucky.
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Have you gotten any hints into Season 2 yet, or do you feel like everybody’s being more secretive about it now that it is such a big deal?
NÉLISSE: I don’t know. I know that Rose will most likely be in there because she is in the books. I have not come around to reading the books yet. I think it’s just because I love Hudson and Connor so much. I can’t really come to read the books, now that I’ve seen them. I don’t really know what happens next, so I can’t give any spoilers.
Saying Goodbye to ‘Yellowjackets’ Feels Bittersweet for Sophie Nélisse
"I've been on it since 18 or 19, and by the time we wrap, I'll be almost 27."
Image via ShowtimeHow does it feel to also know that this will be the last season of Yellowjackets? You couldn’t have known where everything would go throughout the seasons of that show. How does it feel to be saying goodbye to that character, and what are you most excited about with the final season?
NÉLISSE: It feels very bittersweet. These girls have shaped my 20s. I’ve been on it since 18 or 19, and by the time we wrap, I’ll be almost 27. It’s absolutely crazy that these people have been in my life for 10 years and have seen me through so much. The reason that I am the woman that I am today is partially because of them and the values that they’ve taught me, and the acting as well. The level of professionalism and the talent that I’ve been surrounded by, year after year, is really hard to match, moving forward. I know every ensemble show says this, but it does feel like they’re part of my family. It will be heartbreaking for it to end. At the same time, all the shows that I love, I would rather they end before they lose their essence, so I think it’s the perfect time for us to end. I think that the creatives of the show will really have had the amount of time to write a final season that goes above and beyond, that we’ll be so proud of, that will answer so many questions, that will live up to the expectations of the entire show. I feel really confident going into it, but I will definitely be crushed when it comes to an end.
Do you know when you’re going to be shooting it?
NÉLISSE: We leave in two weeks to go to Vancouver. We’re starting in two weeks.
Release Date February 6, 2026
Runtime 85 minutes
Director Corin Hardy
Whistle is now playing in theaters. Check out the trailer:
English (US) ·