This is a great suspense thriller. Rather than relying upon gore, zombies and lots of blood, this film combines wonderful character development, a creative plot and good acting to create a nice film. The movie has an intriguing story line and a crazy ending. Do not listen to the bad reviews. I am sure those viewers wanted to see people get slashed throughout the film. This does not happen. Instead, enjoying this film requires something that is seriously lacking among today's movie viewers and writers: IMAGINATION!
The Caller (1987) with Malcolm McDowell and Madolyn Smith; and The Caller (2011). Very different from each other.
Amazon has mixed them together, the same reviews appear at both Amazon pages. There doesn't seem to be any way to contact them to correct this.
I just watched the 1987 movie and it was OK. Too much talk that wasn't clarified at the end. Surprise ending out of the blue only leads to more confusion. Poorly written but well acted.Compliments:
First, to the phone an ancient black rotary menace. Nice job creepy phone!
Second, at times endearing; at times disturbing; at times threatening phone voice created by Lorna Raver.
Third, to the claustrophobic apartment setting; subdued lighting, shadows and colors; use of sound and environment such as rain to enhance tension.
Fourth, to the actors for their casual naturalistic acting e.g. pauses, conversational dialogue, nuanced everyday behaviors, facial expressions. In particular Lefevre, who was tossed into the role at the last moment and might be well served to use that method for future roles, looked very comfortable. She is a talent that is being wasted in TV spots.
Brief storyline:
Mary moves into an apartment in about 2010 that was inhabited by Rose in 1979. Rose calls Mary from around 1979 which becomes obsessively more frequent. They both acknowledge that their connection is happening for a reason. Both Rose and Mary have issues with males close to them and just in general. "Men don't change ever!" Then Mary suggests to Rose, while thinking of solving her own problems, to "just get rid of him." At this point you see that Rose instantly alters the future by changing the past and more than once.
Spoiler (read when confused after watching the film):
The rotary phone in Puerto Rico in the 70s would not be unusual. Using a phone as a vehicle for the past to communicate with the present is common in film. The phone was shown, in deleted scenes, being found in a box in the pantry coincidentally it was a phone cord used by Rose to hang herself. Rose lived close to where Mary (as a child) lived so she is able to threaten Mary (as a child) as well as people close to her. Rose kills her boyfriend Bobby and Mary's friends George and John (but when John was a boy). Thus the future changes and memories of each from the moment of death ceases. Rose wraps them all in the same old burlap and rope tucking them into the pantry while building a brick wall to hide the evidence. Rose eventually becomes upset with older Mary and takes it out on young Mary by spilling hot cooking oil consequently we see the burn marks instantly appear on the older Mary. Mary, in response, tries to get Rose to kill herself and in failing to do so Rose gets even more upset and tries to kill the visiting young Mary. The young Mary protects herself by breaking a wardrobe mirror and uses the broken glass to disable Rose. In 2010 we see the the now broken wardrobe mirror as well as a now appearing scar in Mary's palm where she held the glass. Both the young and old Mary are trying to protect themselves from Rose at the same time. As for Mary's ex (Steven) who several times threatens (e.g. Wedding photo with "Till death do us part." written on the back as well as stalking) she eventually says, "Last chance Steven." and to which he says, "Yeah. Or what?" which is why Mary's dispatching and tucking him into the newly re-bricked pantry along with the others fits into the story. She not only is re-enacting Rose but is singing her Shafto "broken heart" song at the end.
Problems:
Most of the ages and times just don't match up e.g. the gravestone used for the missing young John appears to say 1924. Rose was in her 40s in the '70s and appears not to have aged and still moves like she in her 40s. Rose did not die when she hung herself according to deleted scenes which changes the story considerably such as how can she be calling from the 70s while also in the present where she again attempts to kill the now older Mary. Without seeing the deleted scenes we have Rose in two separate time periods at once. What do the previous occupants (Mr. Mrs. Alvarez) of Mary's apartment have to do with the story. The alternate ending of a refurbished apartment with ringing phone makes no sense. The reason for the two scenes with blood on her finger is not clear. The subway and dream scenes just add confusion. Generally too many holes from poorly developed backgrounds; in tidying up loose ends and editing made the movie more confusing than it should be.
Read Best Reviews of Caller Here
This reminds me of the old Hitchcock stuff. Mary divorces Steve and moves into an apartment. Steve is of questionable character. Mary gets calls from Rose asking for Bobby. Rose claims she lives in the 1970's. At first she thinks a friend of Steve's is behind this. Her and Rose become semi-friends. Weird things start to happen. Whatever changes Rose makes to the pantry in the 1970's materializes in the present day. This really spokes out Mary. Steven violates his restraining order and Mary gets help from her French teacher. Upon doing some research she discovers a Rose really did live there. Is this supernatural or an elaborate hoax?The film hooks you from the first phone call. You can't wait for the phone to ring. Then at some point, you don't want the phone to ring. But it does...
Excellent writing. Excellent film. Good intensity.
F-bomb,brief sex scene, no nudityThis reminds me of the old Hitchcock stuff. Mary (Rachelle Lefevre) divorces Steve(Ed Quinn) and moves into an apartment. Steve is of questionable character. Mary gets calls from Rose (Lorna Raver) asking for Bobby. Rose claims she lives in the 1970's. At first she thinks a friend of Steve's is behind this. Her and Rose become semi-friends. Weird things start to happen. Whatever changes Rose makes to the pantry in the 1970's materializes in the present day. This really spokes out Mary. Steven violates his restraining order and Mary gets help from her French teacher. Upon doing some research she discovers a Rose really did live there. Is this supernatural or an elaborate hoax?
The film hooks you from the first phone call. You can't wait for the phone to ring. Then at some point, you don't want the phone to ring. But it does...
Excellent writing. Excellent film. Good intensity.
Parental Guide: F-bomb,brief sex scene, no nudity
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