The Telling (2009)

In this horror anthology film, three girls pledge the most popular - and cruelest - sorority on campus. For their final task, they must tell the scariest story they know. Containing three ... See full summary »

Directors:

Nicholas Carpenter, Harry Grigsby

Writer:

Joe Lessard

Stars:

Holly Madison, Christina Rosenberg, Nicole Zeoli

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Holly Madison	...	Stephanie (segment "Sorority Sisters")
Christina Rosenberg	...	Amber (segment "Sorority Sisters") (as Lola La Belle)
Nicole Zeoli	...	Roxy (segment "Sorority Sisters")
Najarra Townsend	...	Brianna (segment "Sorority Sisters")
Angela Nicholas	...	Brianna's Mom (segment "Sorority Sisters")
Wesley Stiller	...	Greg (segment "Sorority Sisters")
Alyssa Price	...	Megan (segment "Sorority Sisters")
Sara Jean Underwood	...	Tracey (segment "Sorority Sisters")
Christina Iannuzzi	...	Brittney (segment "Sorority Sisters")
Jessica Rizo	...	Tiffany (segment "Sorority Sisters")
Ashley Noel	...	Brandi (segment "Sorority Sisters")
Jean Louise O'Sullivan	...	Haley (segment "Sorority Sisters") (as Jean-Louise O'Sullivan)
Stephanie Sanborn	...	Phoebe (segment "Sorority Sisters")
James MacPherson	...	Officer Embers
Jessica Noboa	...	Tonya (segment "Sorority Sisters")

Storyline

In this horror anthology film, three girls pledge the most popular - and cruelest - sorority on campus. For their final task, they must tell the scariest story they know. Containing three distinct stories - one featuring a murderous doll, one a has-been actress and her run in with a film crew of the undead and, finally, a hunt-and-kill fright-fest. The tales inspire someone at the sorority to commit their own murders.

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Plot Keywords:

sorority | undead | pledge | murder | actress | 

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Taglines:

"Perfection without Exception"

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, violence and some nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 April 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Girls Mansion Massacre

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Breakout Entertainment, Chuck Williams Productions, Prometheus Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Color:

Color (High Definition)

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Crazy Credits

In the end credits: "[...] any similarity to actual persons, living, dead or undead, is purely coincidental."

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Connections

References Sunset Blvd. (1950)

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Soundtracks

Russian Dolls
Written by Story One
Performed by Story One
Published by Shy Records Ltd
Courtesy of 19 Recordings

User Reviews

Needs work, but overall not as bad as expected

Gathered together for Sorority Rush, potential pledges are brought together for the final initiation rites, their telling of a scary story.

The Good Stor(ies): Doll Fear-Living together in New England, a woman isn't particularly pleased with her boyfriend inviting ex-girlfriend to live with them, until he gives her an antique doll as a peace offering. Growing impatient over the situation every day, she gradually comes to think that the doll is alive and after her, which no one in the house believes. As a series of weird incidents around her force her to believe that the doll is alive, she eventually discovers the truth and tries to stop its murderous antics. This was an incredibly enjoyable and entertaining entry, with a lot of really great stuff about it. One of the best things it does is the build-up with the doll being alive. From the different sayings in different situations, him waking up with the doll despite being placed in another location beforehand, as well as the best set-up, watching them have sex and giggling while doing so, followed up by the encounter on the stove afterward which really works well. All of these make the jealousy angle all the more fun and creepy, and once it moves into the final stalking, there's even more fun. The off-screen clattering and giggling set-up the slashing perfectly, the trail of bloody footprints is chilling, and the final resolution is really good. There's only one flaw in this, the fact that it's a pretty clichéd story and pretty much goes right where it's expected to without really offering anything surprising, but it's not a detrimental flaw at all.

Prank Call-As their plans are canceled, friends stay home and decide to play a couple of prank phone calls, only for them to accidentally hear a murder over the phone during one of their calls. Understandably freaked out when they start receiving numerous threatening phone calls tormenting them about what they did, and their suspicions eventually get the better of them, they find that the killer may have found them. This is the most middle-ground of the stories. This here gets the tension of the situation really nicely, with the prank phone calls as well as the act heard over the phone which is quite creepy, followed up by the killer's call knowing of them with no knowledge beforehand. The police investigation segments are perfectly in keeping with that approach, and the first murder is really surprising. The stalking throughout the house is also pretty thrilling, especially the second one with the shadowy figure on the wall. These are all melded together nicely to make for a great premise, despite the execution somewhat lacking as the fact remains, however, that this is incredibly short and really could've done more to expand its stalking parts. There isn't enough to really play with all its' capable of and really should've used a few extra minutes into its stalking moments to actually get going nicely, as well as actually showcase its murders on-screen with some gore, which would've been helpful. However, it's still really good.

The Bad Stor(ies): Crimson Echo-Fallen on hard times, an actress agrees to meet with an eclectic director on a new movie and goes to his house for preparation of the film. As he begins to explain the concept of the film, she grows incredibly uncomfortable with what's asked of her, until she learns the truth about the movie and what they demand of her. This one is really problematic, as it's such a potentially-entertaining segment. Easily the most chilling part of this, and the film as a whole, is the dinner party, from the silence from the guests as they sit around the table to the intense lecture given that goes well with the upcoming tension and growing concern over where it's heading, which works nicely. There's also the rather creepy masks worn as well as the abduction part at the end, along with the rather disorienting dream sequence that is highly erotic and trippy. There's some work to be done, though, in that the most disturbing segment, the showing of the war footage to really throw her off, is marred by the lame song played over the scene, not even showing it but just her reaction which really ruins the impact it's supposed to have as well as being utterly inappropriate for the situation. There's also the fact that, almost immediately afterward, one of the listeners aptly describes the entire segment as being weird over scary, since it's low on scares and tends to get by on its rather hypnotic look and feel to generate scares, and as well as ruining the dinner party scene, the abduction at the end and eventual torture is seen in such mild flashbacks and cuts that it's impossible to determine what happened to her or why it should be something to fear, and instead the end is just her acting like one of them without any explanation why, greatly ruining the power it should've had and altogether ruining the entire segment.

Rated R: Graphic Language, Violence and Nudity.