Final Caller (2020) Poster

(2020)

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5/10
Everybody's a critic
nogodnomasters29 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Roland Bennett (Douglas Epps) is a syndicated conservative late night shock jock who takes callers from crazies. He gets a call from someone who calls himself "The Outsider" (Jack McCord) who claims to descend from a long line of Druids. Tonight he is required to make 8 human sacrifices which he does on air over the phone. Roland initially hangs up on him and tends to his soon to be ex-wife (Jane Plumberg) serving him papers. The caller is persistent and 911 is called.

Jack McCord did an excellent job serving up lines from a not so great script. Roland the protagonist was someone you could not like unless you are a supporter of the orange man who we do not speak. Apparently how the druids performed their ritual killing to Moragon was unimportant as long as it involved torture with hand and power tools. The film shows us the pen may be mightier than the sword, but not a sharpened pencil. Todd Sheets shamelessly plugs his other film "Dreaming Purple Neon" by having the host wear a new t-shirt with the logo on it. Most likely he didn't get to keep it or wanted to keep it.

Guide: F-word. Take that FCC! No sex or nudity.
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6/10
Meaty
BandSAboutMovies7 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Roland Bennett (Douglas Epps) is like an unholy combination of Howard Stern and Art Bell, known for unleashing his venom on callers and staying up all night long which brings out the paranormal nuts. Before his show even goes on the air, his soon-to-be ex-wife Claire (Jane Plumberg) tries to get him to sign divorce papers, the big boss is listening in due to complaints and numerous calls from The Outsider (Jack McCord) sound like real murders live on the air.

It's going to be one weird night.

Directed and written by Todd Sheets (Dreaming Purple Neon, Clownado, Sorority Babes in the Dance-a-Thon of Death), Final Caller wastes little to no time as Roland, his producer Jessica (Rachel Lagen) and engineer Jason (Alexander Brotherton) discover that The Outsider isn't just some prank talking about eight people every eight years on the eighth day of the eighth month. He's really doing it and isn't far away, either. After having his way with the detective (Antwoine Steele) the police send and the security guard (Dilynn Fawn Harvey) at the station, he makes his way to the studio.

There's a lot of talking in this -- Roland and The Outsider are nearly the same person, just one eviscerates callers on the air and the other kills women -- and tons of up close and personal stabbing, slashing and bloodletting. Once the film moves into a stalk and slash within the radio station, it gets really intense and I honestly had no idea what would happen next, much less a real turn by one of the leads.

Nearly 40 years of making movies on a budget means that Sheets knows how to turn a three figure budget into a movie that looks much more expensive than that. This movie also has more gross-out gore than anything you'll see for the rest of the year, delivering in a way that an old fashioned slasher should make you feel: it's aberrant, mean spirited and makes you feel like you need to lie in the shower for some time afterward, unsure of what to do next. Or you know, watch it again.
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9/10
A highly impressive indie slasher effort
While dealing with his own personal problems, the host of a shock radio show becomes increasingly unnerved as a man claiming to be a savage serial killer continually calls into the show saying he'll continue killing until he finishes a sadistic ritual and put him and his staff in danger.

There's quite a lot to really like with this effort. Among the more impressive aspects of this one comes from the highly enjoyable setup that allows the two characters to play off each other incredibly well. The main characters that we follow throughout here, with the sleazy shock-jock host that's going through numerous personal crises, that's actively aggressive to callers and upsets everyone around him, and the serial killer who's going around killing people while trying to make a call into his show in order to talk through is issues, sets the film off rather quickly. The two going back-and-forth here while trying to put their various viewpoints across as he believes the caller is just a nutjob looking for publicity. The conflicting nature of their conversations manages to bring about some fun times here and it's all handled quite effectively. That setup allows the film to come together quite nicely for a series of brutal and graphic kills that are rather fun. The fact that they're being committed over the radio while he's on the show gives this a different energy instead of the usual stalking and slashing that's usually found here in the first half which features some wholly impressive torture setups unleashing tons of great gore. The second half here is quite fun with it turning into a more traditional slasher feature concerning the killer arriving at the studio and bringing about a series of impressive sequences involving the killer and a secondary psycho coming into play that changes things up in an unexpected manner. With some nice gore effects and some shocking elevations that come about, these aspects manage enough to hold it up over its problematic issues. There aren't too many flaws here but it does have some problems. The main drawback to be had here is the rather weird second half that comes off as quite unnatural and realistic with how the reactions to everything play out. The fact that a serial killer is openly butchering everyone in the studio with them in graphic and brutal means yet the reaction to everything going on doesn't read as concerned for their lives but rather an annoyance. Everything that's happening here is played as if there's an inconvenience to be running through the studio trying to stay alive and it is slightly offputting that there's not a more concerted effort here. As well, there's some obviousness to be had in the low-budget effects work that takes place here which stands out somewhat, but overall there are not too many flaws here.

Rated Unrated/R: Extreme Graphic Language, Graphic Violence, and Nudity.
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10/10
Todd Returns with another classic
shagee79777 June 2022
Final Caller is Written and directed by Todd Sheets. Todd is an iconic filmmaker who has inspired me for years . He does things his way and really is loved by the fans of this genre. Now Todd returns with a cool Little slasher flick, just in time for the summer.

Final Caller is about a radio talk show host Roland Bennett (Douglas Epps). Douglas Epps is over the top and kills it in this movie. This is a major reason to see this movie for his performance. Yeah he is obnoxious and you want to kill him yourself, but that's the role he is playing. It's so fun to watch and he nails it perfectly.

He is called upon to solve a murder mystery as on air calls reveal the murders unfolding on his overnight show called "On through the Night". The serial killer The Outsider (Jack McCord) is slicing and dicing his way through his victims. He is calling in his killings and wants to make an appearance. Also in for the mix is Rolands ex wife serving divorce papers. Just adds to the chaos.

So when The Outsider makes his appearance the host and his crew is in for a night of bloody mayhem. This movie doesn't disappoint of what us fans expect. There is the usual closeups of blood, intestines and tons of squirting blood. Gallons and gallons.

Todd once again wears all the hats and after over 30+ years of doing this he hits his mark and then some. So no worries fans. The blood is poured on thick and the slasher gore is old school fun that we have come to cherish. This has been reported to be one of his lowest budgeted movies but the quality is beautiful. Rich sound and colors make this feel like a movie Way above it's budget and a pleasure to watch.

The pairing up of Douglas Epps and Jack McCord was genius. They feed off each other and deliver a beautiful performance that deserves a revisit in either a sequel or a new project. These guys are great together. Along with Todd Sheets direction these guys can become a new horror duo that will be eagerly watched with every movie.
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