The Calling (2014)

Detective Hazel Micallef hasn't had much to worry about in the sleepy town of Fort Dundas until a string of gruesome murders in the surrounding countryside brings her face to face with a serial killer driven by a higher calling.

Director:

Jason Stone

Writers:

Scott Abramovitch, Michael Redhill (novel) (as Inger Ash Wolfe)

Stars:

Susan Sarandon, Gil Bellows, Ellen Burstyn

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Susan Sarandon	...	Hazel Micallef
Gil Bellows	...	Detective Ray Green
Ellen Burstyn	...	Emily Micallef
Topher Grace	...	Ben Wingate
Donald Sutherland	...	Father Price
Christopher Heyerdahl	...	Simon
Kevin Parent	...	Spere
Katy Breier	...	Melanie Cartwright
Paulino Nunes	...	Officer Mathieson
Ted Whittall	...	Ian Mason
Amanda Brugel	...	Officer Vongarner
John Ralston	...	Andrew Pederson
Natalie Radford	...	Glynnis Pederson
Alex Poch-Goldin	...	Bob Chandler
Ella Ballentine	...	Rose Batten

Storyline

Hazel Micallef is the senior officer in the Fort Dundas, Ontario Police Department. Once having tried to commit suicide and a resulting chronic back injury are the reasons she will never be promoted, the position of Commanding Officer, of which she is acting, having been vacant for some time. Hazel self-medicates to dull the emotional and physical pain. Relatively young and inexperienced but enthusiastic Ben Wingate transferring from the Toronto Police Department to join her and the only other detective, Ray Green, coincides with the first homicide in Fort Dundas in four years, the victim aged Delia Chandler, a friend of Hazel's mother, retired judge Emily Micallef with who single Hazel lives. Delia's throat was slit, but the coroner is able to determine that the murderer posed Delia's mouth post-mortem, with the time for rigor mortis to set in meaning that he/she had to hold the mouth in place for upwards of an hour. With two subsequent murders in nearby communities with similar oral...

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Plot Keywords:

prescription drugs | alcoholic cop | serial killer | house fire | bouquet | 

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Taglines:

Pray for the Prey

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violent content, disturbing images and some language

Did You Know?

Trivia

A number of scenes where shot in Dundas, Ontario. Specifically the house that belongs to Grace Batten (Kristin Booth) is now a Bed & Breakfast in Dundas. The front of the house, front door, entrance hallway can all be seen in the movie. The bedroom scene with Simon (Christopher Heyerdahl) and Rose Batten (Ella Ballentine) is one of the rooms in the B&B. When Simon goes to visit Tamera Lawrence, who is supposed to live in Saint-Dominique, Quebec, but the "hot water kettle" scene is shot in the kitchen of Dundas Glen Bed & Breakfast.

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Goofs

When Hazel returns home to find her mum sleeping in her armchair, Hazel walks in, removes her coat and walks past a mirror on the wall and into the living room. In the mirror, just after Hazel walks past you can see what appears to be the shoulder and upper arm of someone wearing a dark blue shirt- presumably a member of the crew.

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Quotes

Father Price: I find it fascinating that someone like you would be interested in unearthing this prayer that has been for 1,500 years, by and large, lost.
Hazel Micallef: I think somebody may have found it.

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Connections

References Clue (1985)

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Soundtracks

Winter Sets In
Written and Performed by Mark Petrie

User Reviews

contemplative more than thrilling

This movie's genre is mis-named. It's contemplative. It's also as dark, northern & cold as its Canadian landscape. Could the same effects not have also been achieved by a director or movie from Finland or Sweden or even Germany? (Compare the slow tempo of much German cinema.) It's a story about a state of mind with little light & much darkness -- and death is just a kiss away. Of course it also has a thriller, hunt-'em-down narrative. But I do not think that is the point. The story masks an attempt to portray a state of mind -- where do I go now? life seems hopeless, pointless & what's the use? -- concerning which mood of mind all of the actors are superb, first rate older (& younger) pros. This is definitely not a fun flick. But definitely first-rate in its own quirky way. Thank you. PS: Why is so much Canadian-based cinema so bitter and dark?

Details

Country:

USA Canada UK

Language:

English Latin

Release Date:

5 August 2014 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Calling

Filming Locations:

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$189,254

Company Credits

Production Co:

Stage 6 Films, Manis Film, Breaking Ball Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Color:

Color