The Calling *** (2014, Susan Sarandon, Topher Grace, Gil Bellows, Ellen Burstyn) – Movie Review

Sub-Fargo genre serial killer thriller The Calling is a very average entertainment, but in a good way. It fails to carve out any new ground in a crowded market, or be unique or special in any way. But it’s still a very watchable thriller, plainly but competently made without any frills. It’s not exactly exciting but it is creepy and tense most of the time.

As the detective on the case, Susan Sarandon is a bit wobbly (especially for a previous Oscar winner) with her pop-eyed over-acting and an iffy drunk act. But she is still OK as sleepy small-town cop Hazel Micallef whose investigation into a string of gruesome murders in the surrounding countryside brings her face to face with a serial killer driven by a higher calling. Sarandon’s rather unsympathetic character is a grouchy, moody and alcohol and drug addicted loner, which she does at least manage to make compelling against the odds.

[Spoiler alert] The identity of the serial killer is revealed early on as religious maniac Simon, played very effectively by a quietly chilling Christopher Heyerdahl. Topher Grace is an asset as a nice, sincere gay cop assigned to Micallef’s police station, whom she uses ruthlessly to track the killer.

Donald Sutherland is very hammy in his two brief scenes as Father Price (a day’s work?), but he is entertaining as always, adding value. And there’s just a little room left for Ellen Burstyn as Micallef’s concerned mom and Gil Bellows as her fellow detective, Ray Green. Both actors are solid and fine, doing what they can without much help from the screenplay by Scott Abramovitch, adapting Inger Ash Wolfe‘s novel.

It’s the first film as director by Johannesburg-born Jason Stone. He needs to bring more dynamism and quirky character to the film-making, but its still capable, conscientious work.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Movie Review

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