Synopsis
The character in the story is Elizabeth Woods, a journalist who has just suffered a life-altering experience and hence decides to shift to a quieter town. She applies at the local newspaper and is given an assignment which involves a historic home that hasn’t been lived in for quite some time. The more Elizabeth tries to unravel the history of the house, the more heart-stopping flashbacks it clouds her vision with.
The nature of her research helps Elizabeth to piece together the morbid tale of the house starting off with a married couple, who are murdered under George’s house, to Montgomery, the former dread that has drifted into the home as a ghost. What is truly remarkable about this tragic event is how the family derived means to kill themselves which was guided through crime. Eventually to set the family free, Elizabeth further to this compels herself to eliminate the murderous spirit.
The picture seamlessly merges two different genres of psychological horror and ghost stories but simultaneously tackles the concepts of trauma, grief and redemption as well. The main character’s personal struggles seamlessly come together with the tale and deep emotional pain of the spirits blurring the lines of reality.
Awards & Wins 🏆
While “A Dead Calling” did not receive major awards or critical acclaim, it gained recognition in niche horror circles for featuring iconic horror actors Sid Haig and Bill Moseley. These actors are well-known for their roles in cult classics like The Devil’s Rejects and House of 1000 Corpses, making their inclusion a treat for fans of the genre.
Cast & Crew 🎭
- Director: Michael Feifer
Known for directing several low-budget horror films, Michael Feifer has carved out a niche in direct-to-video productions, often focusing on crime thrillers and haunted house tales.
Main Cast:
| Actor | Character | Notable Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Alexandra Holden | Elizabeth Woods | Drop Dead Gorgeous, Friends |
| Sid Haig | George | The Devil’s Rejects, House of 1000 Corpses |
| Bill Moseley | Chief Murken | The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, Repo! The Genetic Opera |
| Leslie Easterbrook | Marge | Police Academy series, The Devil’s Rejects |
| John Burke | Stephen Javitz | Criminal Minds, CSI |
IMDb Ratings ⭐
3.4/10
The film holds a low rating on IMDb, primarily due to its slow pacing, predictable plot, and limited production quality. However, fans of classic haunted house stories and those who enjoy seeing iconic horror actors in action may still find the film worth a watch.
What Makes It Stand Out?
My head is a bloody mess after watching the movie. People consider needing therapy terrifying, and I genuinely believe that once you are in therapy, life will become equally light-hearted. But life isn’t very pleasant is it? The haunting environment that Gus Van Sant creates and the acting of horror veterans in ‘A Dead Calling’ are strong enough to send a shiver down anyone’s spine. Even though it employs themes common in most ‘haunted house’ films, the viewers, in this case, are the hosts in these traumatic spaces, while the major focus is on Elizabeth’s mental trauma.
It is Haig’s inexpressive face, the character of the ghost qui et av φορά rafraichissante de l’horreur approximately during second hand Je suis radiné which, as he rumbles under hypnosis, guarantees — his style is embodied in the horror genre. Plus, the ghost simply exudes terror due to Sid Haig’s brawny portrayal of George the Spirit — the avid wrestling fans will get to experience a dose of masculine charm from the ghost’s wrestler character.
Personal Insights 💭
It’s apparent that “A Dead Calling” could have taken the audience on an absorbing thrill of grief and redemption but the lack of funding as well as sheer unfortunate execution manages to kill the entire effect of the story. The pacing of the film being comparably sluggish to other films, there is no denying that some of the dialogue feels poorly improvised.
There is one file of the film that works well and that is the story. As someone who watched direct to video horror back in the mid 2000’s, I realize that such story settings were said to have been filmed during the time period.
A good estimate I would have is that half the audience that took time out of their day to watch this film were there to look for a deeper narrative experience than the regular jump scares and ghost infested storylines typical sad house horror films provoke, I am glad this film did undertake a relatively new approach of focussing more on emotions rather than the angle of approach we expect a horror movie to have.
Cultural Significance 📚
There was a considerable rise in low budget horror movies that were sent straight to DVDs along with SyFy and Chiller channels around the mid 2000’s. “A Dead Calling” comes under that category too, as it belongs to an era where the demand of horror related content in the home video market was high.
Additionally, the film is based on a certain point of time in horror when the story line of haunted houses was on the verge of making a drastic change. Attempting to move away from solely focusing on ghosts trying to scare residents moving out of the house, these stories started to integrate into psychological themes as well.
Particularly for Sid Haig and Bill Mosely fans, the film is somewhat a blast from the past, as the film highlights the notable actors over the span of years in one film. Their roles as the main cast in Rob Zombie’s movies have made them several icons in that genre, thus making an appearance in less known films lig this one a nice change for their loyal fans!
Themes Explored 🧩
- Grief and Trauma:
Elizabeth’s character arc is centered on confronting her past traumas and finding peace through uncovering the truth. - Redemption and Closure:
The spirits in the house, especially the murdered family, seek closure through Elizabeth. Their tragic story reflects themes of forgiveness and justice. - The Weight of the Past:
The house itself is a metaphor for the past that refuses to be forgotten. Both Elizabeth and the spirits are trapped by their histories and must confront their demons to move forward.
Where to Watch 📺
The film is available on multiple streaming platforms, including:
- Tubi (Free with ads)
- Peacock (Subscription required)
- Amazon Prime Video (Rent/Purchase)
Final Verdict 🎬
For pure horror enthusiasts who ignore the tight budgets and prefer story-driven narratives, ‘A Dead Calling’ would be a decent watch. Though Sid Haig and Bill Moseley’s performance is top notch, I would, however, suggest ‘A Dead Calling’ only to those with a toned palate with regards to pacing and storyline.