Director: Jason Cuadrado
Writer: Jason Cuadrado, Wyatt Doyle (Screenplay) Jason Cuadrado (Story)
Starring: Corri English, Tyler Mane, Traci Lords, Van Hansis, Camillia Monet, Daniel Hugh Kelly, Tracy Perez
Plot: A young, blind operator for a suicide hotline descends into a night of unrelenting terror when an obsessive caller turns out to be a serial killer.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Basic Horror Not Reaching Potential
Story: Devil May Call starts as we see serial killer John (Mane) on the phone with suicide hotline girl Sam (English) but when his latest victim escapes we see just what he is capable of. Sam is a blind woman who is highly respected within the helpline center who is left with the responsibility of looking after a new member of the team Jess (Hansis). Sam is getting ready to move onto a new job but her most regular caller John has become obsessed with calling Sam and doesn’t take the news that she is leaving well threatening her.
The final night for Sam is about to take a turn when Sam, Jess and Val (Lords) find themselves trapped in the building when John comes on his latest murderous rampage.
Devil May Call is a film with so much suspense filled tension potential because having a blind character trying to elude a serial killer should create tension bound horror. This doesn’t come off because we never see the true motives behind John’s action, taking Sam away from the location also doesn’t help because the film just seems to sudden end without a final showdown between the two. I feel this story just doesn’t address what it offers enough to reach any of its potential.
Actor Review
Corri English: Sam is the blind suicide helpline operator, she enjoys the job where she gets the chance to help people every day. One of her most regular callers John just so happens to be a serial killer but she isn’t away of this but when she informs him she is leaving this drives him over the edge as he starts targeting her center. Corri is solid in this role but doesn’t get the moment you would like to see from the leading lady in horror.
Tyler Mane: John is one of the regular callers to Sam, she has plenty of problems and is in fact a serial killer with the only thing keeping him sane is his conversations with Sam. When he finds out Sam is leaving he goes on a rampage to make her pay for lying to him. Tyler is as always a brilliant screen presence but just doesn’t give us enough.
Traci Lords: Val is the experienced worker that works the late nights with Sam, she is good at her job as well as being a good friend to her. Traci is solid in this role being the supporting character need for Sam.
Van Hansis: Jess is the new guy starting as a replacement for Sam, he spends the night learning off her only to find himself being a victim to the killer on the end of the line. Van is good but only a basic supporting character that never really gets going.
Support Cast: Devil May Call has a small remaining supporting cast that don’t really add anything to the main story.
Director Review: Jason Cuadrado – Jason doesn’t get enough out of a great idea involved.
Horror: Devil May Call should reach much higher levels of horror but is doesn’t let enough build up.
Thriller: Devil May Call should also get us on the edge of our seats but in the end it just fizzles outs.
Settings: Devil May Call uses the help center for one center and it would be fair they should have kept the whole film there but taking it out of that location ruins the tension.
Special Effects: Devil May Call has very basic special effects for the kills.
Suggestion: Devil May Call is one to try, because it is short and sweet for a horror. (Try It)
Best Part: Short.
Worst Part: Lack of Suspense
Believability: No
Chances of Tears: No
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Runtime: 1 Hour 24 Minutes
Overall: Potentially great horror that doesn’t reach its potential.
Rating
