While engaged in routine electronic surveillance a disillusioned English career spy uncovers evidence that his government is guarding the identity of a Soviet mole. Attempts to learn why result in his 'accidental' death, forcing his politically apathetic father to confront the bitter truth about his country and the shadowy people controlling it. This modest espionage thriller dramatizes what everyone suspects but no one will admit: that the covert networks designed to protect national security are in fact ruthlessly waging a secret war beyond control or accountability. It's rare to see an attempt at serious spy fiction on the big screen, but unfortunately what might have worked in print is sabotaged in adaptation by unimaginative writing (in a script composed almost entirely of expository dialogue) and lackluster direction. In the end not only does avenging father Michael Caine unmask (and seemingly by accident) the lesser villain, but afterward he seems unaccountably satisfied with the halfhearted result.

It's well documented -not least by the man himself - that Michael Caine finds it hard to say 'no' to any offer that comes in over the transom and as if to illustrate this an English Daily newspaper is giving away no less than 14 'Best Of Breeds' that today would go straight to DVD. The good news is that readers are obliged to collect the other 13 from applicable outlets, the bad news is that this, the first, was actually inserted in the newspaper in question. How bad is it? Let me count the ways. Several English actors who should know better but clearly have bills to pay are wheeled out to go through the motions of what may be best described as a Cool rather than Cold War episode - thriller is far too grand a description - in which Nigel Havers gets too pushy for his own good, 'falls' off a roof and leaves father Caine to get at any truth that might be floating around. Dire.

The dreary plot in this film is made overly complicated by bad directing and poor editing. Caine, Fox, Gielgud and Havers have all been in much better films. Don't do as I did and watch this on the strength of the cast - they don't deliver, and if even they had it would not have rescued the trudging script of this thrill-less thriller. 3/10

This 1986 spy thriller is a realistic thriller. Michael Caine gives a great performance as Frank, the father of a son that has died during mysterious circumstances. Frank embarks on his own investigation into his son´s death only to discover a British society that not is what it seems to be, under the surface. His investigation leads to the government and what they would do to protect it´s secret activities. The whistle blower is told in a slow yet thrilling pace. The plot is good, even though it is hard to follow from time to time, and the acting great. The production is very simple which makes the film realistic. The whistle blower is one of Caine´s better spy thrillers and is recommended for anyone into the spy genre. 7/10