THE CALLER (2011) is a rare thinking person's horror film. They really don't make 'em like this anymore! While there are many elements that on the surface the viewer have seen in many other films, it's what's underneath that counts. This film takes several previously used elements and molds them into a profound, scary horror film that I think will steadily gain ground over the years.
As opposed to many modern horror films, The Caller is very old-fashioned and gritty-looking in presentation and tone. It takes it's sweet time to draw the viewer into it's world. Set in present-day Puerto Rico, beautiful, young, and recently divorced Mary (superbly performed by Rachelle Lefevre) has just moved into her own apartment in an old building. She starts getting mysterious phone calls on her landline from an odd, depressed, and psychotic woman named Rose. At first, Mary shrugs her off, then as the plot thickens, she becomes intrigued by this lady.
Mary and Rose share similarities, as both are involved with abusive, neglectful spouses and both women are lonely and depressed. During one of their conversations, Mary playfully suggests to Rose to "get rid of" her spouse, which Rose later confirms she does. Then things get really tense! Mary tries to cut off ties with Rose, but there is an incredible complication (which I won't spoil) as Mary finds that she is connected to Rose more than she initially knew.
Along the way, Mary befriends and gets help in her Rose predicament from a couple of male figures, her gardener-landlord George (underplayed by the reliable veteran actor Luiz Guzman) and a teacher named John (well played by Stephen Moyer) at her night school, who she eventually strikes up a romance with.
The thing that I love about this horror film is that it can be interpreted in several ways and has several layers. The trajectory of the Mary-Rose dynamic throughout the film is enthralling and rides a roller-coaster of emotions. Interesting that we never really SEE much of Rose, yet she's such a complicated, interesting character just be her voice and machinations. And Lefevre as Mary hits ALL the right notes, convincingly relaying Mary's sadness, loneliness, depression, fear, and, in the end, resilience. Really great work by this up and coming actress! I think this nifty thinking-person's suspenser will hold up for years!
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