L'appel du crime

Tracy Nelson, who couldn't give a bad performance if she tried, takes center stage in NIGHT CALLER, a neat little no-budget thriller about a deranged woman who becomes obsessed with a radio talk show host and who will let no one come between her and her new "friend." As Nelson worms her way into the life of her radio lady, the bodies begin to pile up like cord wood. Nelson is on in almost every scene, and captivates as the sad, delusional child of a drunken, physically abusive father and a bossy, overbearing mother. The killings, of which there are plenty and at least one of which is quite bloody, are mostly inventive and almost whimsical, as the movie is not to be taken seriously for one minute. Nevertheless, Nelson makes a believable, and at at times sympathetic, psychopath. This is no THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE, and in truth Nelson is no Rebecca DeMornay, but NIGHT CALLER is still eminently watchable. Interestingly, Nelson's two co-stars in this (Shanna Reed as the radio lady and Cyndi Pass as a co worker) were both former dancers of a certain type. You can easily tell. This is one of those B flicks Hollywood turns out by the hundreds every year that keep a lot of erstwhile adult video stars employed.

In THE NIGHT CALLER, Beth Needham (Tracy Nelson) loves listening to her favorite radio personality, Dr. Lindsay Roland (Shanna Reed), who gives advice to help those with "low self-esteem". We're shown early on that Beth has more than just self-esteem issues. She seems to see Dr. Lindsay as more than just a radio doctor. In fact, Beth "sees" her in "visions".

When Beth calls into the radio show, the good doctor gives her some advice. Now, all the creeps in her life had better watch out! Soon enough, even Dr. Lindsay isn't safe!

In a movie like this it's all about the central star's ability to act like a lunatic. Well, Ms. Nelson gets it done. She plays Beth as an utter crackpot with a definite dark side. As the bodies pile up, Beth gets more unhinged and her reasoning gets more absurd.

If you're looking for a serious, suspenseful thriller like THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE, then you're out of luck. However, if you've got a hankering for a more humorous sort of "ferocious female" film like THE LANDLADY, then you've just hit pay dirt!

A rollicking rib-tickler with a boffo finale!...

This is one of my favourite films. People like to dis it because they don't understand it. They were looking for scary and got comedy. Or they were looking for comedy and got twisted. Either way, the film was just excellent. Tracy was so cute and I just love when she is talking to her rabbit. WATCH IT! Go!!!

This was listed On Demand as a serial killer story set in Paris, so a few minutes in I realized it was the wrong movie. However, I was already so captivated by Tracy Nelson's performance as the mentally unbalanced wallflower, I watched it all the way through. I was mesmerized by the way Nelson applied just the right blend of childlike psychosis and pitiable innocence. Shanna Reed is an excellent co-star as the unwittingly influential radio therapist.

The script is reminiscent of films like "The Little girl Who Lives Down the Lane," with a hint of "Misery" thrown in. You find yourself at times rooting for the villain, again due in no small part to the exemplary acting. The action sequences are creatively staged, shot and choreographed, and the production values are excellent.

I was also pleasantly surprised to see celebrity cameos by JJ Cohen (Back to the Future) and Rance Howard. I recommend this forgotten mini-classic for a quick, eerie treat!

Tracy Nelson really gets into this role and has some hilarious lines and insults! I was surprised how much I got into it, it's one of the better TV movie gems out there.

Tracy plays a childlike loner without much direction who becomes obsessed with a radio host. She comes up with all sorts of schemes to insert herself into the host's life and all sorts of undermining and plots are hatched.

Watch it and enjoy, but don't take it too seriously. It's fun!