‘Night Caller’ (2022) Review: Not Your Mother’s Horror Movie

Tiffany Taylor

3 years ago

Trigger warnings abound for anyone who would like to watch Chad Ferrin’s new movie Night Caller (2022). A visceral shock-horror thrill ride, this film is not for the faint of heart.

The story follows a prescient psychic-hotline worker named Clementine (Susan Priver), who is forced to watch a disguised offender (Steve Railsback) commit murders in her mind’s eye. With the help of her coworker, Jade (Bai Ling), and her father, Charles (Robert Miano), will Clementine be able to prevent the murders before they happen? Dishing out a blend of real-life horror with notes of the supernatural, the concept of this film is simultaneously fresh and familiar.

Night Caller (2022): A Shocking Horror Experience

The storyline is unique as we are presented with a peculiar form of psychological torture. Clementine has no control over the horrific visions she receives and is tormented ruthlessly at this violation of her sixth sense. Night Caller possesses a concept that hasn’t been tirelessly overdone, which is a rare occurrence in the horror genre. Furthermore, the film sometimes deviates from predictable tropes involving self-defense, giving us the horror movie moments that we’ve always wanted to see.

Familiar Tropes Meet Brutal Depravity in Night Caller

However, the storyline is familiar as there are some borrowed elements from other horror movies, such as Maniac (1980) and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974). The film lets its source material be known, though, as the former can be found playing on a television in one of the scenes.

But most troublingly familiar is the implementation of tired, offensive tropes such as the bad guy differing from the gender normative structure and women being crudely threatened and cruelly objectified. This movie does not tell a tale of women’s empowerment, nor is it politically correct. Let me be clear: This film is offensive. Nevertheless, movies like Night Caller exist to be offensive. With obviously expositional dialogue and over-the-top acting, the main appeal of this film is its vulgarity. If you indulge in learning about the heinous acts committed by prolific serial killers, Night Caller gives you a look into what those crimes might look like.

Do not watch this film for a typical mainstream horror experience, as you will not find that here. Watch the characters make stupid choices that exist only to further the plotline and laugh along. You’ll need those laughs to get you through the scenes of face wearing and corpse violating.

Chad Ferrin’s Night Caller: Offensive Yet Haunting

Again, this movie is for horror fans in the mood for brutal gore and depravity. This is not a Friday night with the family sort of horror film.

Chad Ferrin did not rely solely on the shock-horror elements of the movie to create a haunting impact, however. Night Caller haunts you subliminally through a setting that is vague and contradictory. From scene to scene, it is easy to lose track of when this film is supposed to be taking place. The use of suspenseful, horror synth music also does its part to enhance the horror. In the end, though, it is the violence and depravity that sticks with you long after the movie has ended.

Make sure you have time to take a shower afterward, and don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Night Caller is available to watch on VOD starting May 13th.