Some people claim they can hear the Calling, like our main bad guy in this movie. While there are some shades and he does have a goal, most of the viewers will not root for him. Of course there is controversy with a theme like that, though I'm surprised that Ebert (movie critic) gave it one of four stars.Just the acting alone should make you feel this deserves more. Even if you don't like Susan Sarandons character, the way she portrays her and plays her is just amazing. The supporting cast is great too, though it's not a "whoddunnit", but more a "whydunnit". Though the latter might be spoiled in most reviews of the movie. I won't do that here, though I know the "reason" will not be everyones cup of tea. You'll either be engaged with this or you won't

Review: This is a very average movie about a serial killer whose on the loose in a small town. As you know who the killer is right from the beginning, there isn't anything that surprising happening from beginning to end. Your just watching the police pieces the clues together, which wasn't that exciting. The lead character (Sarandon), is head of the whole operation but with her addiction to pain-killers and drink, she finds it hard to juggle her professional career with her personal life. Her only escapism from her somewhat glum personal life is to give the case her all, with the help of a new cop who helps her track down the killer. I was hoping for a major twist to make the movie slightly interesting but nothing that exciting happens. When they finally piece all of the pieces together, it's just a matter of time before the killer comes face to face with the cops but it still sticks with the slow pace which made me go to sleep after a while. The performances were also nothing that fantastic but the baddie did look pretty evil. Anyway, it's not anything amazing but I'm sure it will make a good TV movie. Boring!Round-Up: I've seen Topher Grace in quite a lot of movies lately but I still find him to be a basic actor who hasn't got a long range. He played the baddie in the new Predators and he stars in the big budget Instellar but he hasn't become a household name yet and to be honest, I doubt that he will. That's not to say that he's a bad actor because I have seen worse, but he's geeky looks and lack of screen charisma means that he would have to get the perfect role to push him into the mainstream. Susan Sarandon on the other hand is a veteran in the game and she still has been cast in some big movies like the strange Cloud Atlas and Tammy so at the age of 68, there's no signs of her taking a rest. As for this movie, it would have been much better if you didn't know who the killer was until the end of the movie. The fact that the director chose to take out the suspense element, didn't leave the audience much to work with which is why it seemed so basic.   I recommend this movie to people who are into their drama/thrillers about a bunch of cops, working together to try and catch a warped minded serial killer. 3/10

A viewer can see why this Canadian production really did not get much release in the U.S. The plot is as derivative as any serial killer movie today, with the "Fargo" knock-off setting and the misdirection too familiar. Is it about a serial killer? Yes, but really it is about the psychological hang-ups and strained relationships of its lead characters. As one reviewer mentioned, there are enough plot lines and character setups to fill at least a miniseries, but in a 107 minute movie, they just quell any momentum.Sarandon was saddled with a terribly underwritten lead character; she has virtually nothing to do in the film except look tired and over-matched. There are no redeeming qualities to this character and I found myself somewhat disappointed when the twist ending left her alive. Had she been the twelfth victim as the plot clearly leads us to believe, at least there would have been a point to her character.Still, I have a soft spot for any thriller, no matter how meek, that is set in a snowy small town with quirky characters. It is almost always good to see Ellen Burstyn (the remake of "The Wicker Man" is the reason for "almost")and Topher Grace does a nice job as the green cop. Christopher Heyerdahl was creepy as the killer and could have done more if his part had been better written as well.Overall, not something I will re-watch, but for fans of this sort of slow burn serial killer stuff, an OK attempt.

The Calling (2014)It's weird to see how routine this kind of movie has become. And how obvious the influences are. Take "Fargo" and put it Canada (same snow, some parochial setting, and same kind of earthy woman cop). Then remove all the originality and verve, and you have "The Calling." Serial killers are of course more common in the movies than in real life, thankfully. And they all require weird methods, patterns with exceptions to the pattern, and a single (often painfully solitary) cop on the hunt. Susan Sarandon plays the cop, the good guy if you will, and I actually think she does a great job. If she can't match MacDormand in "Fargo" it's partly or mostly because of the writing and direction. In this movie, director Jason Stone in his first full length film, shows he's still learning. And borrowing from good sources. But we all know the formulae, and need more than that. Where do guys like him get budgets and approvals and a couple of great actors when there are so many talented men—and women!—who have shown more mettle and imagination in the trenches?What remains isn't a disaster, but it's a bit of a trudge. Don't blame Sarandon, who makes it charming overall. There is an intention toward realism here, and yet the scenes are a combination of grotesque and whimsical. The murders are horrible, and beyond probably what is normal horror though I don't really know how the world of murder works. And the people are so homespun and regular, worried about their coffees of course, that they lighten up the whole movie without making it comic. So, it's not, for sure, a disaster. I don't know that I'd call that a recommendation. There are better films of this type out there (without going to the top of the genre with "Silence of the Lambs" and so forth). But there are worse!