Elizabeth Avellan producing remake of Venezuelan film The Whistler

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Just a few days ago, we shared the trailer for director Gisberg Bermúdez's Venezuelan horror film THE WHISTLER, which Uncork'd Entertainment and Dark Star Pictures are giving a rollout release in the United States, starting with screenings at the Laemmle Theaters in Los Angeles today. Now comes word that THE WHISTLER will be getting a remake.

Elizabeth Avellan, who is best known for her many collaborations with ex-husband Robert Rodriguez, has acquired the remake rights to THE WHISTLER and will be producing the new version through her company Eya Productions. 

In addition to directing THE WHISTLER, Bermúdez also co-wrote, co-produced, and edited it. Since Avellan was clearly impressed by his work, it makes sense that she is bringing him back for the remake. Bermúdez will be directing the new film and co-producing through his company La Rue Films.

Production/distribution company Alief is also on board to co-produce. 

Inspired by a legend that is well known in Venezuela and Colombia, THE WHISTLER tells the following story: 

A young father wrestles with inner demons and saving the soul of his daughter from The Whistler – a phantasmagorical figure who wanders the night with a bag of his father's bones and whistles in the darkness. When the whistling sounds far away, he is probably already watching you…

Avellan was born in Venezuela, so she was familiar with the legend of THE WHISTLER even before Bermúdez's film caught her attention.

As a six- year old sitting around a campfire one summer in Venezuela, I was introduced to The Whistler. The eerie powerful sound of that whistle from afar that gets closer and closer still fills my imagination and grips me with wonder and fear to this day.

She is aiming to turn this into an English-language franchise

with director Gisberg Bermúdez's style of storytelling, marrying images, sound and music in different settings."

Bermúdez says 

The Whistler is my new representation of evil, feared and loved by spectators but always inviting [them] to know more about his depth as a character."

In crafting THE WHISTLER, Bermúdez drew inspiration from A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, ROSEMARY'S BABY, THE WAILING, and BEDEVILLED. Alief described THE WHISTLER as "THE CONJURING meets THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER", and I'm surprised to hear that any movie could draw comparisons to THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER.

I'm definitely going to have to check out THE WHISTLER as soon as possible.