THE CALLER
Without doubt, the talkiest thriller ever
Featuring a cast of two and directed by the guy who (I swear, it's true) debuted with Hercules In New York, this is nevertheless a very watchable little movie that's twistier than Wild Things, if you can believe that...but since I've only seen it once, I don't know if it all holds up...yet. (WT, on the other hand, almost all holds up) (love that movie)
A woman comes home from the city with a hatbox that's leaking something red. She fires up the stove to cook dinner, calls her daughter on the phone, and answers the door when knocking is heard. It's Malcolm McDowell - his car has broken down and he needs to call a tow truck. And neither of these people are exactly who they appear to be...
What follows is a very strange little flick, the My Dinner With Andre of psychological thrillers, if you will. The two of them verbally spar that night, and the next day when they run into each other in town (not a soul stirs in this town, not a car drives on the roads), and that evening when he decides to show up again. Is she a murderess? Is he planning to kill her? What's in the box? Does he really need a tow truck?
Basically, here's the tone of the sparring between them - it features a whole lot of "How did you know the number for the tow truck without looking it up?" and "How did you know my tire was punctured by a coke bottle?" and "How did you know I live on Cutter's Ridge?" - reasonable questions, all unconvincingly answered, none of the answers really challenged. Both players know the other is full of shit about something - but neither of them really call the other on it, and they continue about this sparring for what appears to be as long as they're amused.
There's even a lengthy, strange scene in which they take turns threatening each other physically, while they talk about themselves in the third person, speculating on how they might threaten each other physically - hypothetically. Weird.
The first clue that there's something really off here is when the woman mentions that her husband was killed in "the war". Keep in mind that this woman has a ten-year-old daughter from him, and the film was from 1987, made with no apparent attempt at being in any "period". (okay, the first weird clue was that her exercise bike has handbrakes)
To say anything more would be massive spoilage, and the less you know going into this one, the better. I dunno, it's nothing really great, but it's certainly interesting in its execution, and it's got a blessedly out-there conclusion that foreshadows that of a great 90's SF movie (but to give away which one would, of course, ruin the surprise).
This is also the first movie I've ever seen that lists its running length right down to the second on the tape.
It might put you to sleep - like I said, it's ALL talk - but if you let it, this one may just tickle your imagination and curiosity. A very quiet, cool little movie with a final shot that's delightfully appropriate.