The Caller died a quick theatrical death in late August, the traditional dumping ground for unsatisfactory genre pics. Well, I've reviewed a few of those films in my time, and The Caller is a cut above. This is partly due to a professional look (courtesy of DP Alexander Melman, his first feature since 2004's Depp vehicle The Libertine) and a cast that brings together two actors, made famous respectively by a novelty vampire TV show and a book-to-film franchise. That would be Stephen Moyer of True Blood fame and the lovely Rachelle Lefevre, Twilight's Victoria (thanks IMDB!) - two actors who can and do emote in this promising thriller. You want The Caller to succeed, to overcome the immediate cross it has to bear when the indistinguishable cover features quote announcing portentously "It may stop you from answering the phone ever again." For the first one-and-a-half acts, The Caller sets up a strong main plot and genuine takes - then it shuffles them aside for a third act that even a hardened horror/thriller fan, used to suspending a wealth of disbelief, will groan at.
Lefevre plays Mary Kee, a emotionally shut-down woman who seeks shelter in a ominous apartment building from violent ex-husband Steven (Ed Quinn). Her apartment strangely features an old-school rotary phone. It rings. Mary picks up - on the other end is Rose (Lorna Raver), and she's looking for Bobby. Mary doesn't know Bobby but Rose is unrelenting and two women soon hit a major stumbling block - spoilers ahoy, because Rose, who once lived in that same apartment, is calling from the past. Yes, indeed, that is the big turn at the heart of the film and while Luis Guzmán's George dispenses necessary exposition and Moyer plays a prince just short a suit of shining armor, Lefevre gets to experience the aftereffects of Mary messing around in the past.
The dialogue is occasionally sharp, the sound design is downright excellent and the film's Puerto Rico locations are sometimes indistinguishable, other times (in the case of a carnival and a graveyard) resonant finds. What The Caller can't seem to overcome is an inability to parlay its curio plot into a satisfying conclusion. The notion of an ending is there but when the stakes are upped and an "exciting" third act rolls around, it's more dull then gripping. An unfortunate misfire but still an entertaining film to watch, The Caller is better than 80% of its ilk.
DVD Bonus Features
An alternate ending, ~7 minutes of deleted scenes and an extensive but only mildly interesting 27 minute interview with the director. Not too shabby for a horror film.
"The Caller" is on sale October 11, 2011 and is rated R. Drama, Horror. Directed by Matthew Parkhill. Written by Sergio Casci. Starring Lorna Raver, Luis Guzman, Stephen Moyer, Rachelle Lefevre.
