A Convocação

At times this serial killer flick can be too stomach-churningly gruesome and grim for my tastes. However, the all star-cast and an absorbing storyline eventually won me over.

Susan Sarandon is superb as the pain pill-popping, heavy drinking, and unfiltered Acting Police Chief Hazel Micallef, in the small town of Fort Dundas, Canada. Topher Grace is also excellent as the young police officer Ben Wingate, who's transferred to Fort Dundas from Toronto, to get a fresh start after the death of his life partner. As mentioned, there's a strong all-star cast here, which includes Ellen Burstyn, Gil Bellows, Donald Sutherland, and Christopher Heyerdahl.

We find out about half-way through the movie who the serial killer actually is, but the actual motives of the killer are not initially what is supposed, as we slowly find out what the real reasons are for the slayings all across Canada. The film, I thought, began to follow a predictable path but then a few twists near the end, I felt, enhanced the movie.

In summary, I felt the filmmakers put a little too much emphasis on the gruesome, but I found myself, with the strong performances and the rather engrossing plot being interested throughout.

The movie was directed by Jason Stone with a screenplay from Scott Abramovitch, based on the novel by Inger Ash Wolfe

This film tells the story of a female detective in a quiet small town, who is addicted to alcohol and pills. Her great friend is murdered one day, and she sets out to find the murderer. Two days later, another murder occurs, and she is determined to get to the bottom of it.

"The Calling" starts off very slow, and I have to say I was about to lose interest in it. Fortunately, the plot turns very engaging soon after the second murder occurs. The puzzle presented here is certainly different from other crime films, which makes this film more captivating. Topher Grace is very good as a young policeman who is intelligent and dedicated. Susan Sarandon looks very good in the film, and I can't quite believe she is already over seventy. I enjoyed this film, and I would recommend it to others.

"When all the sacrifices are complete God will forgive the trespasses." Hazel (Sarandon) is a detective is a town where nothing ever happens. When she stops in to see a local woman that hasn't been answering her phone she is shocked to see her murdered. When more and more bodies are found she suspects a serial killer. New officer Ben Wingate (Grace) starts to help her investigate and what they find is more chilling then they imagined. There are some movies that are very slow moving and hard to stay focused on. This is a slow moving movie that actually manages to hold your attention. This is kind of a mix of Seven and Boondock Saints in the way that the killings are related to the Bible but when you find out the reason for them you start to wonder if it's really a bad thing. This is a movie that you can not talk too much about without giving away something but I will say that I did enjoy this even though it did seem to drag in a few parts. Overall, a creepy movie that is worth seeing but you have to be in the mood for it. I give it a B.

This movie's genre is mis-named. It's contemplative. It's also as dark, northern & cold as its Canadian landscape. Could the same effects not have also been achieved by a director or movie from Finland or Sweden or even Germany? (Compare the slow tempo of much German cinema.) It's a story about a state of mind with little light & much darkness -- and death is just a kiss away. Of course it also has a thriller, hunt-'em-down narrative. But I do not think that is the point. The story masks an attempt to portray a state of mind -- where do I go now? life seems hopeless, pointless & what's the use? -- concerning which mood of mind all of the actors are superb, first rate older (& younger) pros. This is definitely not a fun flick. But definitely first-rate in its own quirky way. Thank you. PS: Why is so much Canadian-based cinema so bitter and dark?

Set in the wintry rural wasteland of Canada, 'The Calling' could be the bastard child of 'Fargo' and 'Omen'. The film begins with depressed, alcoholic, pill-popping Sheriff Hazel roused from her suicidal daydreams when the mutilated corpse of an elderly female acquaintance is discovered After Hazel learns several other mutilated remains have been scattered around the frozen countryside, she begins to suspect a deranged predator might be on the prowl in her precinct. Scoffed at by her superior, she marshals the small town's oddball duo of police officers and their perky receptionist to catch themselves a serial killer. Before too long, Hazel and her team are sipping strong black coffee in their cruisers and detecting like big city gumshoes.

The script reveals some glaring holes as Hazel's investigations uncover an occult connection linking the killings. Thankfully, decent acting papers over some of these threadbare patches. When a few of the loose ends are tied up at the conclusion, the killer turns out to be a routine lunatic, and the rationale for his murderous activities is the standard silliness for this genre of film.