History Main / SinisterWhistling

* Back in [[RadioDrama the Golden Age of Radio]], ''Radio/TheWhistler'' was the narrator/host of an anthology mystery series. Like the first years of ''Radio/TheShadow'', the otherwise-nameless tunesmith did not participate directly in the action, but rather provided ironic and somewhat sadistic commentary on the twists of fate that led to the (usually criminal) main character's downfall. The whistling, however, was just as sinister as the Shadow's laugh. (The radio drama would spawn a successful BMovie series directed by Creator/WilliamCastle and a one-season TV drama in TheFifties.)

* ''Film/{{Hanna}}'': Isaacs, the sinister assassin hired by Wiegler to track down Hanna, enjoys whistling to himself while hunting his prey. Also doubles as InUniverseSoundtrack, as the song, Music/TheChemicalBrothers' "The Devil is in the Details", is heard playing at Isaacs' nightclub during his introduction.

* ''Film/JonahHex'': In one scene [[TheDragon Burke]] is shown happily whistling a tune to himself whilst he sets up the explosives to blow up the train.

* One voiced ''WesternAnimation/PinkPanther'' cartoon series had an episode about catching a burglar only known for his habit of whistling "Pop Goes The Weasel".

[[folder: Tabletop Games]]

* Back in [[RadioDrama the Golden Age of Radio]], ''The Whistler'' was the narrator/host of an anthology mystery series. Like the first years of ''Radio/TheShadow'', the otherwise-nameless tunesmith did not participate directly in the action, but rather provided ironic and somewhat sadistic commentary on the twists of fate that led to the (usually criminal) main character's downfall. The whistling, however, was just as sinister as the Shadow's laugh. (The radio drama would spawn a successful BMovie series directed by Creator/WilliamCastle and a one-season TV drama in TheFifties.)

* ''WesternAnimation/PussInBootsTheLastWish'': The Wolf that hunts Puss throughout the film announces his presence by whistling. It’s off-putting enough to make Puss, whom the Wolf managed to strike and frighten, lose his bravado and flee.

* ''Amphibia'': General Yunan engages in this when coming to meet Grime and Sasha.

* ''WesternAnimation/PussInBootsTheLastWish'': The Wolf that hunts Puss throughout the film announces his presence by whistling. It’s off putting enough to make Puss, who he managed to strike and frighten, lose his bravado and flee.

* ''Myth/BrazilianFolklore'': The Saci-Pererê and the Caipora often whistle as a way to scare travellers and hunters away in the middle of the night. The closer the sound seems to be, the more far away they are from the victims, making them get lost in the forest.

* ''Film/{{M}}'': In what is probably the TropeMaker, the titular [[SerialKiller child killer]] whistles "In The Hall of The Mountain King" right before he tracks down his victims. This is used to great effect, with many scenes keeping the killer off-screen; meaning the whistle itself carries the dread. The tune itself contains multiple pauses and breaks in odd places, giving it an additional sense of wrongness. As Creator/PeterLorre could not whistle, it was the director Creator/FritzLang himself who provided the iconic tune.

* ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged'': PlayedForLaughs. Piccolo is walking around a GhostCity with no trace of inhabitants safe [[EmptyPilesOfClothing their clothing,]] [[HumanResources courtesy of Cell.]] Cell whistles the tune of "All Star" by Music/SmashMouth upon his introduction.

* ''Film/{{Constantine}}'': After finally securing the rights to John Constantine's soul, Lucifer begins cheerily whistling as he [[DraggedOffToHell drags him off to hell]]. [[spoiler:Thankfully, God stops him at the last minute.]]
* ''Film/GIJoeTheRiseOfCobra'': Terrorist organisation Cobra operative [[MasterOfDisguise Zartan]] whistles "For He's A Jolly Good Fellow," several times throughout the movie, including when he murdered Cover Girl and [[spoiler: the ending where he replaces the President of the United States and takes over the White House.]]

* In the 2010 film, The Traveler, the malevolent ghost Mr. Nobody whistles the first lyrical sounds of Mozart's Lacrimosa as he goes about killing the police officers who had him murdered. Best seen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iM6pRRGLWR8 here.]]

* ''Series/{{Jekyll}}'': In keeping with his characterization as a PsychopathicManchild, [[SuperPoweredEvilSide Mr Hyde]] has a habit of whistling "Boys And Girls, Come Out To Play" - most notably after breaking a young man's neck and expressing a desire to "[[DeadlyEuphemism play lions]]" with his girlfriend.

** Whistling "Antonio" in a slow and stilted manner is the CallingCard of the [[SerialKiller Towpath Killer]] from season seven. This is used to great effect, with several scenes involving the killer entirely offscreen and we just hear him whistling as he closes in on his victims. It's likewise used as a plot point twice first to [[spoiler: identify his [[JackTheRipoff copycat]] isn't the real killer as he instead whilstels Molly Malone]] and second to cause Sergeant Strange to realise [[spoiler: Carl Sturgis is the real killer when he starts whistling Antonio in his kitchern]].

* ''Series/BreakingBad'': Jesse is distraught over a [[spoiler: TV news broadcast about the disappearance of Drew Sharp, the boy that Todd killed. Walt tells him that he feels guilt about the incident as well, but after the conversation is over, he starts to whistle light-heartedly, implying that he doesn't feel any remorse over the murder]].

* ''Series/PowerRangersRPM'': In "Go For The Green", one of the protagonists, Ziggy, encounters Tenaya 7, an android created by the evil A.I Venjix to infiltrate Corinth, for the first time after she tries to go incognito as a civilian in the hope of passing his audition for the Green Ranger morpher. After Tenaya's cover is blown, Ziggy flees from her with the morpher and finds himself cornered in an area where sheets are drying. As he calls Dr. K for help, he hears Tenaya stalking him while whistling "The Farmer in the Dell", appropriately enough. This is actually a plot point as, up till this point, none of Venjx's robots have expressed much emotion beyond Crush, Kill, Destroy!