It’s a common trope in films, the main characters finding a rare, mysterious, and dangerous looking object. I’ve never come across one of these objects in my life, but I’d like to think if I did, I’d know to get rid of it without a second thought.

Fortunately for us, the characters in Whistle, a new IFC/Shudder horror film opening in theaters Friday, didn’t do the same. Instead, they followed the rabbit hole we see these characters go down so often. They play with it, then have to try and walk back that action before it claims their lives.

In the case of Whistle, the object is, in fact, an ancient looking whistle. It’s an object with origins among the Aztecs that has an ominous phrase translated by the finders as “Summon the dead.” It was found in the locker of Chrys (Dafne Keen), a new student with a dubious past. She doesn’t know what it is, but she’s drawn to it.

Turns out the boy that had the locker before died in a horrific accident in the school showers. But as the audience already knows, it was no accident. When Chrys shares her find in detention, there is a lot of mystery about it. Mr. Craven (Nick Frost) claims the item for himself, sending the students on the way. It isn’t long before he tries to sell it online but must test it first. Predictably, that is a mistake.

He also leaves the item behind, where it’s again snatched by one of the students—Chrys’ cousin Rel (Sky Yang). He brings it to a party with Chrys and the rest of the detention gang. They, too, can’t help themselves when it comes to trying it out. And mayhem ensues.

The set up here feels familiar. A group of people find a dark and mysterious object, and despite their best instincts, they decide to give a whirl. They don’t understand what it does or what it is capable of doing, and soon find themselves in mortal peril. Can they find a loophole before it’s too late?

The film comes from director Corin Hardy (The Nun). He knows his way around a spooky story and creates some chilling images and sequences. The film also has plenty of violent and striking death scenes. It adds to the tension of the story in a good way.

The cast is solid, too. Keen, best known as X23 from Logan and Deadpool & Wolverine, does a nice job in the lead role. The supporting cast is mostly a set of caricatures, but I did enjoy Sophie Nelisse, who plays Ellie and is Chrys’ best support in the group. We also get a fun supporting sequence from Frost, and a fun supporting role from Michelle Fairley. Those help add to the intrigue of the film.

Overall, the plot here is nothing special. The film also runs a touch long, dragging some things out before getting where we know it’s going. But Hardy does a nice job on the direction and the sequences are solid enough to keep your attention. That makes for a solid enough horror release to kickstart February.

Whistle opens in theaters nationwide on Friday, February 6.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.