Monday, October 20, 2014

31 Days of Horror-Day 20: The Caller (2011)

(dir. Matthew Parkhill)


*First time viewing

     The great thing about caller ID is that you don’t have to pick up for calls you don’t recognize. In most cases it’s some sales pitch or scam, but there’s always a chance that it could be a woman from forty years ago who’s desperately looking to make you her friend, at any cost. This is the situation Mary finds herself in in The Caller. Seeking a fresh start after leaving her abusive husband, Mary moves into a new apartment where she starts receiving mysterious phone calls from Rose, a woman calling from the past whose own abusive relationship has left her unstable. Believing she’s found a kindred spirit, Mary tries to help. But then Rose starts showing up in Mary’s old childhood photos…

     The Caller is the kind of movie that starts off being pretty interesting, and then shifts into awesomely crazy mode. While the cinematography is flat and the film isn’t visually interesting, the script by Sergio Casci transcends the mediocre direction. The story, while complex, never becomes convoluted in its time travel rules. The time travel is used with enough restraint that it remains effective at raising the stakes as the story progresses. And by the time the film reaches its ending, it feels completely earned.

Scare Factor: 3/5 The Caller is a highly original blend of horror and time travel that starts slow but becomes absolutely pulse-pounding. It’s a film that will sneak up on you. Out of all the non-wide release horror films available to stream, The Caller has one of the most unique narratives.


**Available to watch on Netflix Instant

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