The Caller – DVD Review

The Flick:

First off, I just like to state that this is one of the best films I’ve seen all year.

Rachelle Lefevre (Twilight) is Mary, a recent divorcee who has just moved into a new apartment. She also has a stalker problem. Her abusive ex-husband doesn’t acknowledge that there’s a restraining order issued against him, and Mary is also getting unwanted phone calls that are from a woman named Rose, calling from 1979.

Rose’s boyfriend once lived in Mary’s new apartment, and the old rotary phone that came with the place somehow works as a connection to its past. At first the calls just get on Mary’s nerves, but after some bonding regarding the respective ladies’ troubles with the men he their lives, Mary says something that she lives to regret. Rose takes it to heart, though, and after there’s a disturbing change to the apartment both ladies realize that whatever Rose does in the past can change the future. Shocked by this new turn of events, Mary unplugs the phone to block out Rose’s daily calls. This doesn’t sit well with Rose. When Mary finally plugs the phone back in-she can’t get a signal on her cell phone-she finds that Rose has discovered Mary as a child. Now the threats begin. And they turn deadly.

Even though, at times, what Rose does can be predictable that’s really not what makes this film thrilling and terrifying. It’s the question, “How can one battle a monster from roughly thirty years distance?.” Screenwriter, Sergio Casci has not only presented this interesting premise, he’s created believable and likable characters. Lefervre, True Blood’s Stephen Moyer, Luis Guzman (Boogie Nights) and the rest of the cast breathe life into their roles. They all seem like real people. Even Rose, who we barely get to see, comes to life when played by Lorna Raver (Sylvia Ganush herself from Drag Me to Hell). She’s even scarier here than in Raimi’s film, and let’s not forget the director, Matthew Parkhill. He handles the film with a sure hand and he never falters. I believe he’s a talent worth watching out for.

This thrill ride of a film had me sitting on the edge of my seat till its ending. An ending that is both triumphant and tragic.

The DVD:

Audio/Video

Alexander Melman’s cinematography does look good here, but I can’t help but feel that the transfer the source material could’ve been better. The sound is crisp and clear, yet unremarkable.

Special Features

There are three extras on this disc: An alternate ending, deleted scenes and an interview with the director. The alt ending seems more like some extra footage they decided not to use. Just ending the film before this part happens kind of thing. I usually don’t bother with deleted scenes, but these are short and are interesting mostly to show cuts made for pacing. The interview is the best feature. Parkhill is a bright individual with much enthusiasm for his craft as well as the script for The Caller and the film that he made from it.

The Flick Rating:

The DVD Rating: