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Parents' Guide to

The Calling

By Amanda Nojadera, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Faith-themed crime thriller has graphic violence, language.

Movie R 2014 108 minutes
The Calling Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 2 parent reviews

wonder dove
wonder dove Adult
May 26, 2015
age 15+

Excellent mystery thriller!

I found this film to be quite enjoyable! I loved the fact that it was mysterious with a dark errie vibe throughout. Susan Sarandon is wonderful as always and the acting was absolutely superb. It was nice to see Topher Grace play someone different. The story is not too scary for older teens but still has an incredibly creepy atmosphere and the killings that are shown afterwords are usually graphic and gory. It is a mystery suspense thriller done very well but with minimum action and more drama, I would definitely watch it again! Violence is gory and includes lots of murders which result in a graphic slit throat, a stomach removed from a body with dogs eating the remains, mouths of victims are manipulated into freaky positions, a suicide, a rotting corpse is discovered, people are poisoned, scalding hot water is poured on a woman's back as she screams. Language is strong but not too frequent which includes some uses of the f-word, sh*t and hell. No sexual content. Some scenes of drinking, a character may be an alcoholic, some pill popping. Overall, safe for teens 15+.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
johnswanson
johnswanson Adult
October 24, 2014
age 15+

Great mystery, but graphically violent.

This film is a very good dark mystery. It is hard to know what age is appropriate because each kid is different. If your child can handle graphic violence, gore, and bad language, then this film would be fine for them. If you have sensitive children, stay away from this film. The main character is also a pill-popping alcoholic who doesn't seem to be interested in changing. A good movie - but make sure you know your kids.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Adapted from Inger Ash Wolfe's novel of the same name, THE CALLING stars Susan Sarandon as Hazel Micallef, a surly detective in a small town who spends most of her day drinking and taking pills to numb her pain. When she discovers a gruesome murder and realizes its similarities to cases in neighboring counties, Hazel turns to Father Price (Donald Sutherland) to understand what "Liberare" -- the Latin phrase that the victims' mouths have been manipulated to say -- means in relation to the murders. With the help of Detective Ray Green (Gil Bellows) and the newest addition to her team, Ben Wingate (Topher Grace), Hazel must find and stop a zealot serial killer before he can complete an ancient prayer of resurrection.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (1 ):

The bleak landscape of Hazel's quiet, small town of Port Dundas provides an eerie vibe to The Calling, and the ominous music adds to the suspense in this crime thriller. Although the serial killer's identity is confirmed midway through the movie, Christopher Heyerdahl's performance as the prophetic yet extremist Simon is best shown in the chilling scenes where he uses his faith to persuade his victims and his alternative medicine in an attempt to heal a young girl.

Sarandon effortlessly portrays a moody alcoholic whose pessimistic disposition often clouds her judgment, leading the audience to believe she may choose to become one of Simon's victims. Those familiar with the Bible will quickly recognize the religious references throughout the movie, and the ambiguous ending allows viewers to question Simon's faith.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the role of Internet communities in The Calling. Why do you think Simon's victims felt more comfortable reaching out to someone online than in person? Who do you reach out to when you need to talk to someone?

  • How is religion portrayed in the movie? Do you think any particular message was intended? What do you think happened at the end of the movie?

  • How are alcohol and substance abuse portrayed in the movie?

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