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Overall Rating : 4.5/10
Directed By : Michael Feifer
Bill Moseley (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2)
Sid Haig (House Of 1000 Corpses)
Leslie Easterbrook (The Devil's Rejects)
Alexandra Holden (Dead End)
Supplied By : Lionsgate Films
Film Reviewed By : Rick L. Blalock
Date Reviewed : Dec. 14, 2006
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| PLOT When a supernatural force causes Elizabeth, a young story editor for the local paper, to investigate an old house, she finds herself to be the only hope for a family of long dead ghosts yearning to tell the story of their massacre. But when the father of the family, who is still living, hears about her visits, he takes precautions to make sure that the truth is never told. Soon, though, Elizabeth will find out that her connection is much more meaningful than she ever thought. |
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| THE REVIEW In Michael Feifer's latest film, A DEAD CALLING, we meet a young vibrant news reporter named Rachel Beckwith. Rachel is popular around town for being a local celebrity, so popular in fact, she has stalkers from time to time. It just so happens that a fateful encounter with one of them ends with the death of her Boyfriend. After the incident, abandoned and alone, she moves in with her parents and soon takes a news job for her new small town. Her new boss has been keeping an eye on her work prior to her arrival and proposes an idea for a story in which he believes she is perfect for - which is investigation of old residents of the town and their history. It isn't long that Rachel is appointed assignment at an old run down house once occupied by a doctor and his family. At first glance the house is creepy in appearance but once she is inside, Rachel begins seeing visions of the family - most importantly the Housewife being brutally murdered by her Husband, Dr. Sullivan. Rachel shortly after the visions feels that she must continue to investigate the home and when the spirit of the deceased wife begins to call out to her, she and her boss Stephen Javitz plunge into their own thorough investigation into the Sullivan murder case, despite everyone else being against it... During the investigation they find out that Sullivan's rage stemmed from a pending malpractice lawsuit at the time and they also find that one child had survived the massacre without harm - this soon sees Rachel questioning just why is she being chosen by Mrs. Sullivan, and is here life all that she believes it to be? Prior to seeing this I was already aware of the work of Writer/Director Michael Feifer as I have previously reviewed his slasher film called THE GRAVEYARD a while back. THE GRAVEYARD was seemingly on unmentioned sequel to the BLOODY MURDER films and had the look and feel of a low budgeter but had some good and but qualities. Here in his latest, A DEAD CALLING the same look and feel is present, but this time he somehow has rounded up a very impressive cast. This film is like THE DEVIL'S REJECTS all over again as we have, Sid Haig, Bill Moseley and Leslie Easterbrook all starring with principal roles. I don't know but this move, having them all star here, seems like nothing more than a selling point - in means to get people to buy and rent the film. Sure the story is thoughtful and decent, but it is really not up to par at the level of talent these fine actors are. Their performances are great given the material and budget they had but I can't help but think their star power is a bit wasted - especially Bill Moseley who doesn't even live through the film's half way mark....the man is a genius and it was a letdown that he wasn't on screen more( it may have been all of the screen time in which they could pay him for), As for Haig and Easterbrook(whom play Rachel's Parents), I really enjoyed Leslie's character, she is a great actress and seems to give her heart to ever character in which she plays. Sid Haig's character possesses all of the charm that Mr. Haig has made his trademark, but again I feel that his character was also weak - I mean, at one point during a confrontation in the film, he dies without defending himself... and we all know Sid could whip some ass if need be! Alexandra Holden as Rachel, provides an almost decent performance I thought, given the material once again as she has been in a few bigger productions and this in far below them. This story is also decent, but has striking similarities with other films like THE RING or THE GRUDGE, in which a character discovers an evil dwelling in the past. However I did like the elements of the flashbacks in which the time of the murders are reenacted in front of your very eyes, that for one, added a Haunting element to a story that was sort of dragging until that point in the film. The film obviously tries it's hardest to be it's own original, but as it tries, it also ends up being painfully predictable midway through - a trouble many low budget pictures face, Overall, although I kind of liked the idea of the Doctor whom snaps and kills his whole family(minus one), the film just didn't have a flow that one could really sink themselves into - and although the Firefly clan are partially in attendance here, their presence is bland at best.... |
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| GORE
METER 2/10 Only a stabbing death to speak of, not gory in the least... |
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| MUSICAL
SCORE 2.5/10 The score is nothing spectacular, so much so that I only vaguely remember it.... |
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| OVERALL
IMPRESSION OF THE FILM A DEAD CALLING has all of the makings for a hit, 90% of the principal cast of an award winning film, THE DEVIL'S REJECT'S, a decent hot story that is trendy at the time in ghost - but the basic direction and made for TV feel to it, renders the overall product to be far less entertaining than it could have been. Michael Feifer has been involved in numerous projects and to be honest, I enjoyed his film THE GRAVEYARD more than this effort, I am also curious in seeing he's upcoming film based on Ed Gein...I wouldn't say that I don't recommend A DEAD CALLING, but there are better choices Directed and Produced by Feifer, that in my opinion are better. |
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