The Caller

***SPOILERS*** A lot like the 2000 time traveling movie "Fequency" in the "The Caller" there's this young woman Mary Kee, Rachelle Lefevre, who somehow gets in touch with her past in 1979 through a number of mysterious phone calls from this woman who calls herself Rose,Lorna Raver, who claims that she stole her boyfriend Bobby away from her. You see right away that something isn't right with the phone that's in Mary's shabby 1st floor apartment being an rotary phone that's been out of production-you can't even find it in a novelty shop-by the phone companies for at least 15 years! Mary also has trouble here in the present-2011-with her abusive husband Steven, Ed Quinn, who despite an order of protection by the courts, to stay 500 feet away from his estranged wife Mary,is constantly showing up at her door and threatening Mary with bodily harm or even worse if she doesn't take the bum back. A a bum he is looking for every excuse to get into Mary's apartment to raid the refrigerator for free food & beer which he's too cheap to buy for himself.

It's later in the movie that Mary finally realized that this Rosa is holding her hostage as a little girl back in 1979 or 32 years in the past and planning to kill her to keep Mary stealing her just back from the Vietnam War, with serious mental problems, boyfriend Bobby when she grows up! With Steven planning to murder her in the present and Rosa to do Mary in back in 1979 it's no wonder that she's on the brink of a nervous breakdown and about to be committed!

***SPOILERS**** Mary in checking out old newspaper microfilm in the public library sees that a major fire took place in her neighborhood bowling alley around the time-September 1979-that Rosa is calling her and tries to get her to go there to see her with the excuse of boyfriend Bobby being there so she'll end up being one of the fires many victims. Wise to what Mary is up to Rosa now goes full blast to do in the young Mary that in effect would make the Mary of 2011 no longer around and living! Like in the movie "Frenquency" this film about changing the past as well as future is a bit too confusing as well as hard to follow. With the Mary of 2011 being attacked by the Rosa of 1979 as at the very same time trying to save herself as a little girl from Rosa back in 1979! It in fact does have a somewhat happy ending with both Rosa in the past and Steven in the present getting their comeuppances which is about the only good thing you can say about the film!

The premise of this movie is actually somewhat interesting, even though it's pretty clearly "borrowed" from Frequency. I'm sure it was pitched as "Frequency meets 100 Feet (the Eric Red movie from 2008)". It's not the worst idea I've heard, though it's definitely derivative. The problem is that they never really got any further than that, and it plays out rather stereotypically, with heavy-handed direction, bland characters, trite plotting, and weak dialogue. What really saved the movie, however, was Lorna Raver, who played the crazy gypsy woman in Drag Me To Hell. Man, that woman is creepy! Just hearing her voice on the phone was enough to creep me out. Without her, this movie would only be a 4/10. I'm tempted to give this movie a 6/10, just because of her, but she was the only good thing in it, really.

There are a few times when you're left scratching your head, wondering why the characters are so dumb, but these kinds of thrillers absolutely depend on stupid characters doing things that defy all common sense. If that kind of thing annoys you, I'd avoid this movie. Otherwise, if you're not expecting much and lower your expectations, you might find this an enjoyable waste of time. It's nothing special, but it's not offensively bad, either. If you liked this movie, I'd suggest checking out 100 Feet, a supernatural thriller featuring an abused wife trying to convince people that she's being haunted by her dead, abusive husband. It wasn't amazing, but it was significantly better than this movie. Obviously, there's also Frequency, but that was played much more straight, without the B movie vibe of 100 Feet or The Caller.

When I watched this movie almost 9 years ago, I loved it and I remember the plot and helplessness of the main protagonist, and how well it was made, every now and then. Watching the Korean remake (how to turn tables...), I think this one is weaker but still such a nice and well made little movie. It works well as a thriller and drama. I suggest you to watch the Korean one first, and then this one, both are well worth of your time.

Rachelle LeFevre is very good in the role as a displaced, recently divorced student in S. America wanting to make a new start and get away from abusive ex-husband.

The cinematography is very evocative, moody and suspense provoking. She is in San Juan, Puerto Rico and meets a handsome teacher Gianni Guidi, who becomes friendly toward her. Meanwhile she gets harassing calls via an ancient telephone in her apartment. An old woman, who seems at first to need help, but ten other developments ensue.

Luis Guzman has a good cameo here as sometime maintenance/owner of apartment building she lives in

There are twists and turns, the dog, the sudden appearances of sadistic ex-husband (reminds me a bit of "Sleeping with the Enemy" in beginning). However, do not tune this film out, there are Hitchcockian elements to it and the screenplay is well-written and not over the top.

The visuals are excellent and well worth watching. Don't give up on the premise, it works in the end and there are some beautiful shots of Santa Margherita cemetery. Gothic and interesting. 9/10.

So it's official, I either don't understand this site, or I don't understand the way people who vote/rate here think. The Caller just might be the most underrated Horror film of 2011, or even ever! So please let me start by recommending that you don't let yourself miss out on it, as you could easily find one million films that would be less fun to watch.

The plot is realistic and relatable, slightly feminist but not in an annoying criticizing way (I hate seeing socio-political agendas and messages in fiction films, regardless of what they are). Mary has recently left her abusive husband and is now living alone in a new apartment. Great acting by Rachelle Lefevre, who is very different than your usual "blond with blue eyes" in Horror films.

As for the story - one of the best most original ideas I've ever seen in a Horror film. Perhaps the idea has been done before, but it's been a first time for me. Many Horror films attempt to make the audience scared and uncomfortable by relating to the terror and despair that are felt by the characters. The Caller does that in a remarkable way that is both original (even if not ground breaking) and immensely effective! That's the way to connect cross-time from Sc-Fi to victim control in Horror!

The cinematography is slightly disappointing, and some of the shots simply appeared a little amateur, as if done by someone not very comfortable with a camera. However, the profound audio effects really make up for it, I really liked them! And to top it all - not one of the annoying overused cheats appear! No visible silicone breasts, no death on account of car not starting, not even an inability to communicate due to a cellphone having no signal! Not to mention there's no use of the corny "sudden loud music to make you jump". There are a few scenes with quiet, close-up and then sudden noise, but delicately and gently done.

All in all - I don't like rating films too high, nor too low. I always look for shortcomings on account of being a pretty easy grader. The Caller, in my opinion, deserves a heck of a lot more recognition and compliments than it's been given. I loved every second of it, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a truly well made Horror film.