L'appel du crime

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 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!

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!!!

I really like this movie. It's one-of-a-kind for the fact that the killer this time is a woman named Beth who does not indeed appear to be a killer. She looks like she can't hurt a house fly. Beth's infatuation is not your typical jealousy over a man but over a woman. No, she's not obsessed with the female doctor sexually, but she just needs a friend and it seems this kind doctor is the only person who gives Beth the attention she needs and although the doctor is just doing her job, Beth takes it much more seriously and begins to stop at nothing to become closer to this doctor. She gets a job at the doctor's answering service, baby-sits the doctor's son and will do whatever it takes to make the doctor like her more than anyone. Even if it means killing whoever gets in the way!!

Although the movie was good, I was a little confused about some things that I hope get answered through this. Who's eyes are those on the cover?? They're certainly not Tracy Nelson's. What made Beth become crazy?? There's only a split second that explains why she killed her father, but we never know what caused her unusual infatuation especially with someone over the radio!!

Overall, it was a good one!! GO OUT AND RENT/BUY IT!! IT'S WORTH IT!!