Displaying items by tag: The Calling 2014 movie

THE CALLING

Canada, 2014, 108 minutes, Colour.

Susan Sarandon, Gil Bellows, Ellen Burstyn, Topher Grace, Donald Sutherland, Christopher Heyerdahl, Ted Whitall.

Directed by Jason Stone.

The Calling is a little-known Canadian detective story. Made in Canada, especially in rather bleak, snowy country areas – with some trips to the city of Hamilton.

This is not a police thriller, not an action show. Rather, Fans will have to slow down, meet the detectives, learn their stories, discover the crimes, the forensic evidence, building theories, receiving clues, making connections, going into action to track the killer.

The star of the film is Susan Sarandon, Hazel, in charge of the police station in the country town, Gil Bellows her assistant. Then, Topher Grace comes the city, not immediately welcomed, but proving invaluable in terms of amassing clues and interpreting them. And they become more numerous.

The film states that it has a Catholic background, a visit to a church and, indeed. Donald Sutherland as a veteran priest, Father Price. However, the religious theory behind the killings is an invention of the screenwriter with very little reference to historical reality, and some of this expressed dates personalities, inaccurately (by Father Price) all kinds of conspiracies and secrecy in the early centuries of the church, range of beliefs in resurrection, believing human sacrifices to achieve resurrection. (And, at the end, when Father Price recites the Lord’s Prayer, he uses the Protestant version rather than the Catholic version.)

What is different is that the audience sees the killer rather early in the piece, initially suspecting him, seeing him in action with a little girl and his offering to heal her, then his contact with various victims, the detectives having photos of the victims, noting their mouths, their seemingly singing, and Father Price interpreting the words as a chant for liberation.

There are psychological problems, Hazel and her relationship with her mother, Ellen Burstyn, and Hazel.

The strong cast and the unusual case mean that is an interesting film  thforose who enjoy detection.

1. General sounding title, the ominous explanation? Religion, Catholic traditions, screenwriters inventions?
2. The Canadian setting, the bleak snowy landscapes, the town, police precincts, homes, diners, the contrast with the Canadian cities? The musical score?
3. The detective story, not a police thriller? Detection, the crimes, the clues, forensic evidence, theories, higher authorities, local jurisdictions, police, detectives, medical practitioners?
4. Susan Sarandon as Hazel, her age, the back story, marriage, loss of her child, depression, suicide attempt, her back injuries, living with her mother, tension and love between them, waking up, drinking, eating, relationships in the town, Ray, working with her, collaboration, clashes? Andrew, his wife, clashes?
5. The dead woman, throat slashed, her son and his arrival, the mystery, investigations, the back story? The post-mortem, theories?
6. Wingate, his arrival, Hazel’s and Ray’s reactions, his leaving the city, his explanation about the death of his partner, the gay background? His enthusiasm, the investigation of a number of deaths, the phone calls, information, the photos, the study of the mouthes, the theory of the singing?
7. The visit to Father Price, his explanations, the inaccuracy of historical and scriptural details, the screenplay’s invented theories about secrecy, about sacrifices, about victims, about resurrection? But Father Price’s beliefs, doubts, his age and experience, the discussions with Hazel? The impact on her, her religious background? The later revelation about Father Price, his illness, the theories, his helping the brothers, Gabriel’s suicide, his contact with Peter, his offering himself as a victim? His death?
8. Catholic background, inaccuracies, the use of a non-Catholic Church, the Protestant recitation of the Lord’s Prayer, the invented theory about sacrifices and secrecy?
9. Hazel, going to the city, the clash with Mason, not getting promotion, not getting extra help? The continuing investigations? Wingate, his contacts, the phone number, travelling to the countryside, following the suspect, the discovery of the artist, the formaldehyde body? The later revisit by the police, the body of the suicide brother, ready for resurrection? And the behaviour of the disciples?
10. Wingate, coming to the house, the photos, Hazel examining them, her mother’s response, inviting him for the meal?
11. The audience knowing the killer early, at the cafe, his tea, the waitress, her story, a little girl collapsing, his going to the house, initial fear, with the little girl, the tea, persuading her to drink, to sing? Hospital, seek, coming back to life, the reference to the Gospel of Mark, the raising of the little girl by Jesus?
12. The issue of the mouthes, the song, the Latin, Father Price explaining the of theme of liberation?
13. Wingate, going to the house, in phone contact with Hazel, Ray disapproving, risking her job? The killer, attacking Wingate, talking with Hazel on the phone?
14. Hazel, at home, the arrival of the killer, the conversation with Hazel, her past, despairs, bound, urging her to drink, her will to live, his defeat, shooting himself?
15. Detective work, the serial killer, religious beliefs, their motivations?