The Caller

The 2011 psychological thriller, The Caller, directed by Matthew Parkhill, introduces us to a compelling narrative that masterfully intertwines elements of mystery, horror, and time-travel, tying it all together with captivating performances by the versatile Rachelle Lefevre, the charismatic Stephen Moyer, and the talent veteran actress Lorna Raver. The storyline, setting, and layered characters come together to create a complex and engaging mosaic of suspense that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats.

The movie begins with the main protagonist, Mary Kee (Rachelle Lefevre), a pretty and smart young woman, moving into a beautiful but somewhat eerie apartment in downtown Puerto Rico after a tense and distressing separation from her abusive husband. She is eagerly trying to start anew, to erase her past and jump headfirst into a serene and peaceful life. But as fate would have it, her hopes don't last very long as she is confronted with inexplicable occurrences that send her life spiraling downward.

The narrative takes a surprising turn when Mary Kee begins to receive strange phone calls from a woman named Rose (Lorna Raver). Initially, the calls seem like harmless distractions, with the mysterious Rose seeming merely misguided. However, as the calls become more frequent, they grow increasingly sinister and alarming. Mary begins to realize that she is not merely dealing with a wrong number situation or an abhorrent prankster, but something completely outside the realm of the ordinary.

Amidst the turmoil of these unsettling phone calls, enters John Guidi (Stephen Moyer), Mary's new love interest. Moyer, popularly known from the "True Blood" series, voyages past his vampire persona to play a reliable and lovable teacher who becomes Mary's pillar of support as she wrestles with the ominous phone calls. Moyer lends an engaging charm to his performance, and his onscreen chemistry with Lefevre provides some much-needed respite from the nerve-wracking suspense that frames the movie.

On the other hand, Lorna Raver crafts a chilling portrayal of Rose, taking the terror quotient of the movie to dizzying heights. Raver's manipulative voice modulations become a vital tool in creating an atmosphere of dread and apprehension. This is heightened by the very clever storytelling that skillfully depicts the interactions between Mary and Rose. It is through these interactions that the audience slowly begins to unravel the mystery surrounding the calls, leading to some rather appalling discoveries which, however, are left to be fully explored by the viewer.

The Caller may sound like a conventional thriller, but it begs to differ with an intriguing twist of time travel incorporated into its storyline. The movie carefully addresses the concept of a temporal paradox, adding a touch of science-fiction and endowing the plot with a unique mystery element. This ingenious narrative strategy helps The Caller transcend its genre confines, compelling the audience to think, analyze, and even revisit certain aspects of the film to comprehend what's actually happening.

Despite the chilling narrative, the film brings forth an essence of Puerto Rican culture, making the audiences experience the vibrancy and liveliness of the island. The tasteful cinematography beautifully captures the locales, whether it’s the bustling city roads, the quiet and picturesque countryside, or the peculiar charm of Mary's apartment.

The Caller is an intense, well-acted, and superbly directed psychological thriller that keeps you guessing till the end. It is a unique blend of horror and sci-fi, served with a side of romance and human drama. The depiction of a resilient woman confronting an unknown terror, the escalating tension that is meticulously built throughout, and an impressive blend of bizarre time-play, all make The Caller a highly-engaging movie worth watching.