Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘The Call’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘The Call’.
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Something that few of us will openly admit to, willingly, is that we have moments in our past that we are not proud of, and it makes sense as to why we keep those unsavory memories hidden away. For there is an expectation in our modern world, that we carry ourselves in the finest of fashion and avoid trouble and mistakes. Because to do otherwise makes us unsavory somehow… so we keep our secrets close to the chest, to the point where even those we love, don’t know about some of our biggest mistakes or our darkest moments, all to project that sense of perfection and wholesomeness. Which is in fact, a horrible way to handle the past. Because going that route means we tend to bury our secrets in that dark recess of our minds, allowing for it to fester and grow and that can become problematic.
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Because eventually, that kind of darkness can sour our soul and prompt us to act out in ways we never thought possible. Which means that if we ever want true happiness and peace in life, we have to buck the trend and confront our past and the consequences of our actions whether we like it or not. But that is of course, easier said than done. For the past is difficult to confront when it takes root and sometimes, letting go of it is just as terrifying as facing it. Since it becomes an important part of who we are and well, all of this is relevant to discussion today, simply because Shudder is now host to a horror film that focuses heavily on the power of the past and how toxic it can be and that makes The Call, quite the interesting story to say the least. For it is a tale that is also full of misdirection and surprise, as evidenced by its plot.

Because this is a story that plunges us into the heart of a small town in 1987, wherein a young man named Chris is eager for a fresh start because where he hails from is filled with bad memories. And thanks to his introduction to a vivacious young woman named Tonya at his school, it would seem that particular transition is going to be no problem. For she quickly adopts him into her close-knit group of friends, one that includes the enigmatic Brett and his bully of a brother Zack and she’s so eager to make him part of their little gang… that she invites him along for an evening of vengeance one night. For it is widely believed in this town that an old lady named Edith Cranston killed Tonya’s baby sister and got away with it. But unfortunately for the group… this decision to cause a little trouble will come back to haunt them. For Edith ends her life after dealing with these awful accusations once again and while that should bring closure… her untimely end was all part of a grand plan. One that will bring Chris and his new friends face to face with their darkest memories and the spirit world, as Edith works to exact revenge from beyond the grave.

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Which is a plot that initially appears to be grounded in notions of revenge and its toxic nature since Edith and the kids are in essence, caught in an endless loop of it, one from which it would seem there is no escape, only endless pain and suffering. But once we begin to see what secrets the kids are keeping in the depths of their hearts… well that’s when this movie takes on quite the different tone. For it quickly transforms itself into a story revolving around the dangers of hanging onto the dark parts of yesterday and what that can do to a person and that leads to some fascinating vignettes. The kind that shows us in great detail how not dealing with the past, can transform a person into a jaded individual that more or less pays anger forward on a consistent basis or how it can morph a person into someone that is fearful and reserved. 
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But where this story truly shines, is when it explores how the skeletons in our closet, the ones we are actually responsible for… can eat at our souls and make us shells of who we are or worse, turn us into a monster that we never thought we would become. As to how exactly all of this plays out, we’ll leave out of this review. Because it is best you experience those bits and pieces firsthand, and it would be rude to spoil all the surprises in what is in fact, a solid horror film. Because outside of the fascinating commentary on the darker side of the human condition, this is also quite the eerie and brooding film. One filled with angry characters and visceral imagery that does indeed leave the viewer uncomfortable and guessing. Because you really don’t see the surprises coming in the slightest and the wonder of this film doesn’t end there.

For this is also a story that features a pair of silver screen legends, since Tobin Bell and Lyn Shaye play Edward and Edith Cranston respectively, and their unique skill set adds a whole new dimension and depth to this horror film and they’re not the only ones to turn in some wonderful performances here. For Chester Rushing and Erin Sanders are dynamic as Chris and Tonya, since their subtle execution of their roles here outright sells their respective journeys in both a believable and surprising manner. So, if you’re in the mood for a solid horror flick, one that offers up some juicy scares and some engrossing mystery, then, swing by Shudder when you have a little time and give The Call a look. Because you can never go wrong with an intelligent horror story that takes the time to remind the viewer that its best, we deal with our demons as soon as possible… before they poison our soul and put us down a dark and unsettling path.   

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