By Geno McGahee
The risk you run when you become a celebrity on any level is having a stalker. Obsessed fans create their own reality and need to be in the lives of the targeted star. In 1989, Rebecca Schaeffer, star of “MY SISTER SAM” was murdered by crazed stalker, Robert John Bardo. It happens all of the time, and in the 1998 film “THE NIGHT CALLER,” we visit this topic in a very entertaining way.
This film immediately reminded me of two others. The first is PSYCHO, due to the likable crazy lead role, Beth Needham (Tracy Nelson). The other is PLAY MISTY FOR ME, which surrounds an insane caller into a radio station, getting consumed by them and eventually wanting to kill them. Both of those films are classics, leaving some big shoes for this one to fill.
Beth lives with her ailing mother and it’s not helping her psyche. Her mother is overly critical and just mean, but she’s totally dependent on her daughter. Beth’s job isn’t mentally stimulating either, as she works at a gas station. It doesn’t help that her boss is a dickhead either. Her only escape is her favorite radio show with Dr. Lindsay Roland (Shanna Reed).
Roland helps her listeners by giving on air advice and she is a godsend for Beth, who starts imagining her spirit talking to her, helping her through the tough times.
A huge fight with her boss leads to unemployment, but there is a white light. There is an answering service that has direct contact with Lindsay Roland and that’s where the fun begins. Beth begins inching her way into Roland’s life, becoming her babysitter, and trying to impose herself as her best friend, which includes murdering the current best friend.
It all blows up in Beth’s face and she is forced to kidnap Roland and go on a road trip. All this time, the spirit of Roland speaks to Beth, encouraging her to stay the course. Her now dead mother also speaks to her, criticizing her constantly. In one hilarious scene, Beth shoots and kills an old lady and says: “Didn’t I tell you to get lost?!” When she realizes that it’s not her dead mother, she looks confused and says: “Who are you?”
THE NIGHT CALLER is an absolute winner and it’s due to the performance of Tracy Nelson. She plays the role as Anthony Perkins played Norman Bates. I couldn’t help but to root for Beth to get away. The character, despite being a killer, was incredibly likable. When her co-worker began digging into her past, she poisoned her and as she looked up, dying, Beth smiled and said: “Snoopy-Poopy.” I have never heard that term, but dammit, I want to hear it again!
My hat is off to Nelson for the portrayal of the character. She really put in a great effort to pull off this difficult part. This was a pleasant surprise. I highly recommend it.
Scared Stiff Rating Rating: 7.5/10.