The Night Caller

Yet again, I have found another film I've never heard of. This is a well-written compelling character study into madness. A good hidden gem.

Writing Quality: Very good. The writers are quite straightforward about Beth's psychosis--they don't hold back at all, be it her imagining conversations with Dr. Lindsay to pummeling coworker Marge with questions about her favorite person. Beth interacts with a number of people in this film, each moment spotlighting her growing obsession with radio psychologist Dr. Lindsay, who tells Beth when she calls in that she isn't "nothing special" as she believes, but is indeed special and in control of her life. Well, Beth runs with that new self-belief after enduring 28 years of parental abuse. Empowered by her new sense of self, she will do anything, especially commit murder, to get closer to Dr. Lindsay.

Scare Factor: Beth's behavior is edgy, unsettling. There are as many kills in this story as you would find in a Friday the 13th film, though not on a gruesome level. Beth's psyche continues to break the more she clings to Dr. Lindsay's every word. She believes she is her best friend and eliminates anyone who threatens that relationship. Nelson plays out the deepening psychotic transformation profoundly well.

Content (sex, language, & violence): No sex, some language, moderate violence. Many of the kills are passive-aggressive.

Values: Coworker seeking to protect herself and Dr. Lindsay against Beth; Dr. Lindsay helping those with low self-esteem.

Acting: Stellar-- Beth (Tracy Nelson) effectively shows her potential for darker roles in this thriller. You might remember her from Square Pegs, but as Beth, she showcases the schizophrenic, murderous, and deceitful psychopath in bone-chilling ways. Her increasingly unraveling madness is apparent in each scene, funneling forward and unable to stop at nothing.

Bonuses: Beth's coworker Marge is hilarious. She is a born-again Christian, but will mess up by cursing, then immediately apologize to the Lord. She is actually the one character who sees that there is something really wrong with Beth and tries to get help.

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