Kattiera Nana I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

InformationRap This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

Sameer Callahan It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Keira Brennan The movie is made so realistic it has a lot of that WoW feeling at the right moments and never tooo over the top. the suspense is done so well and the emotion is felt. Very well put together with the music and all.

linprior I read the book by Inger Ash Wolf and found it absolutely superb in its description of a serial killer's actions and motivations, together with a fantastic portrayal of Hazel Micallef and her relationship with her family and colleagues. I had thought it would make a gripping TV series actually so when I saw that the story had been made into a film, I was really excited to see it, having raved about the book to my sister and daughter. Oh dear though, what a disappointment. Both Hazel (Susan Sarandon) and her mother are far too glamorous and the whole thing has been so watered down, sanitised and flattened as to be almost unrecognisable. I suppose the fact that it was a TV movie being shown in the afternoon should have been clue enough to know that it wasn't going to be the thrilling, shocking tale that it could have been; not only that but the ending was completely changed! The film was 'OK' I suppose but really wet compared to the original.

moonspinner55 In a sleepy Canadian town, police inspector Susan Sarandon sees a pattern between a local murder and murders in the surrounding jurisdictions of various men and women who have had their mouths manipulated into odd positions before rigor mortis set in. The victims were all Catholic as well, a clue which leads Sarandon's officer to Father Donald Sutherland, who tells her of the resurrection of Jesus through the sacrifice of 12 willing souls. Video on-demand release looks and feels like so many other films--serial killer genre or otherwise--that each new revelation Sarandon and deputy Topher Grace come upon feels like old news. Sarandon, who (in an identical costume) cannot escape comparisons to Frances McDormand's police chief from "Fargo", tries giving us a complicated woman (she suffers from a bad back, she can't work a cell phone, she lives with her mother, she's seeing a married man), but none of these character quirks adds much to the film's final tally. Director Jason Stone sets up some interesting shots, and the movie might be called a polished piece of work--however, it's too polished with its steely blues and grays. The grisly nature of the crimes is then undercut by black humor which doesn't feel spontaneous (it's too mechanical); and by introducing the killer so early in the narrative, the audience is two steps ahead of the heroine. * from ****

tigerfish50 Set in the wintry rural wasteland of Canada, 'The Calling' could be the bastard child of 'Fargo' and 'Omen'. A serial killer is quietly going about his business until depressed, alcoholic, pill-popping Sheriff Hazel is roused from her suicidal daydreams by the mutilated corpse of an elderly female acquaintance. After she discovers several other mutilated remains have been scattered around the frozen countryside, Hazel begins to suspect one of cinema's most blood-curdling stock villains is on the prowl in the 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 deranged predator. Soon they are detecting like big city gumshoes, sipping strong black coffee in their cruisers and hot on the maniac's trail.The script reveals some glaring holes as Hazel's team uncovers an occult connection linking the killings, but 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 fairly routine lunatic. The rationale for his murderous activities is the standard silliness for this genre of film, leaving 'The Calling' exposed as a rather tired old workhorse.

Bob Rutzel Detective Hazel Micallef (Susan Sarandon) has her emotional problems in a sleepy Canadian town and life is easy and slow until some murders awaken her sensibilities. She notices that the murdered people seem to have their mouths manipulated to mouth words, but what words are being said? More murders confirm this hunch and what is the murderer trying to say? Got your attention now?As I started to watch, I felt this played like a good mystery for FARGO (yes, and snow all over the place, too) and I kept hoping I would hear, "Ya, you betcha" coming from Detective Hazel's lips. Okay, just a thought. But here's another thought: why does the hero always seem to have emotional problems that play upon our "sensibilities?" Huh? Okay, just another thought. This is slow going, but gets us engaged without any hi-speed car chases or fantastic CGI. The reason this engages us is because we are constantly hearing questions about the murders and learn that the murders may be linked to the Bible? Say whaaaat? Okay, now we are fully engaged. Notables: Donald Sutherland, Ellen Burstyn, Christopher Heyerdahl. There is a very big twist at the very end that may have you questioning things……. maybe. Just another thought. But keep in mind: a very big twist. Really big! (7/10) Violence: Yes. Sex: No. Nudity: No. Gruesome scenes: Yes, bloody too. Language: Yes, not much