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Grave Caller
USA 2017
produced by Old Man Winter Productions
directed by Joseph Anderson
starring Jacob Crickenberger, Vanessa Cuccia, Nathaniel Grauwelman, Kate Bryant, Amanda Miller, Ray Zupp, Bill Nally, Aziza Al-Tawil, Joseph Anderson, Elizabeth Lawson, Randy Cummings, Talana Harris, Tyler Lucas, Meghan Martin, Rachel Stefursky, Pauline Dolle, Randall Lester, Hope Aliff, Daniel Pritchard
writtten by Joseph Anderson, music by Steven Roberts, Steve Wishnewski, Todd K. Edwards
review by Mike Haberfelner
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Sam (Nathaniel Grauwelman), a successful writer of YA novels, promises
his wife Veronica (Vanessa Cuccia) a romantic trip to a country cottage
where he spent part of his childhood - but fails to also tell her he
actually plans to do some research for his next book on the trip, and when
she finds out she's understandably miffed.
Sam is actually researching the story of his uncle Samuel (Jackob
Crickenberger), who lost everything to alcoholism, expecially his wife
Claire (Kate Bryant), who meant the world to him. But not he's managed to
stay sober for two years, and he has come so far that he's offered the job
of preacher at his community. And even Claire comes back and wants to give
it another try - but then, just as he wants to take her on their first
romantic date since the split, he has a relapse. Claire is devastated, and
jumps out of his car on their way to the restaurant he has made
reservations at. Claire is then picked up by Peter (Ray Zupp), a friend of
hers - who rapes and ultimately kills her. Sam has visions of her death,
but without a body he lacks closure, and looking for such takes him down a
dark path of murder ...
Back in the here and now, Veronica feels neglected by Sam - to then die
in a freak accident while Sam's blissfully sleeping in the next room. Sam
is of course devastated, and in his devastation gives in to someone who
promises to bring Veronica back to life. And they do even, just, things
aren't right anymore ...
Basically, Grave Caller is quite a fascinating puzzle,
one that has the two temporal levels of the film intertwined in a morbid
way. And the film is also cleverly built up in a way that it doesn't give
away too much too soon but is full of surprises that get more macabre the
longer the film goes, up to the very eerie ending. And an atmosphere-heavy
directorial effort really sees to it that the creepiness never lets up.
And a solid cast sees to it that the characters remain relatable in all
their fallability, all of which makes up for a strong genre movie. If
that at all has gotten you interested, you can find this movie on TerrorTV.
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