The Calling

11/8/2023

**_Atmospheric but ambiguous tale of the birth of the antichrist_** A newlywed woman on the Isle of Man (Laura Harris) becomes increasingly suspicious when her son reveals coldhearted-ness while her friend and boss (Alice Krige) seems to be taking her place. Then there’s the mysterious taxi driver (Francis Magee). What’s going on? "The Calling” (2000) is a well-made supernatural thriller with the same plot as the contemporaneous “Bless the Child,” but is way more low-key. It mixes the set-up of “Rosemary’s Baby” with the spooky tone and muddled storytelling of “Nomads,” along with bits of “The Seventh Sign” and “The Wicker Man.” Unfortunately, it’s the least of these because it’s the least compelling and the last act leaves too many questions, but I was able to figure things out afte