I really wanted to like 'The Call' a lot more than I did when I found it had horror stalwarts Lin Shaye and Tobin Bell on the cast list. However, it just felt too long for its own good and nothing much happened.
It's set in 1987. Why? No idea, besides some 'period' costumes early on in the film, there's no real reason why this couldn't be set in present day. Early on, every 80s cliche seems to be rolled out, from 'Adam Ant' style costumes to playing Pacman at the arcade. Then it all takes a back seat as the four main teenage characters (most of which look a lot older than the story would have us believe!) leave the cheapest looking set which passes for a carnival and go visit an old couple of 'play pranks' on them.
Unfortunately, this leads to a death and a spooky encounter a few days later. I'm trying to be as vague as I can for fear of spoilers, but you don't get as much Lin Shaye as would have elevated the film more. Tobin Bell does his best to be creepy - and he is - but his scenes are the first to just drag on before the 'meat' of the story gets going.
Then we're treated to four similar tales of horror - one per character - which are all preluded by very long drawn out scenes and basically much re-treads of each other and then it basically ends. I understand the reason why the film is called 'The Call,' but I'm sure they could have come up with a better - less generic - title. It's almost an hour before the 'horror' of this film gets going and, when it does,' it's not an awful lot that you haven't seen before.
All in all, 'The Call' is okay, but not half as good as making a tighter-scripted film which utilised the considerable talents of Shaye and Bell. It's got some nice, stylish touches here and there - like the edits nearer the beginning of the movie - but apart from that and the two elder statesmen of horror, it hasn't got as much going for it as it could have.
5/10 a hard trek, a bit like unicycling to Mordor and back
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