Devil May Call (2013) Poster

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3/10
It's the pits
Leofwine_draca27 August 2015
DEVIL MAY CALL is another entry in the long-running sub-genre of "blind women in peril" movies. Highlights of this sub-genre include the likes of WAIT UNTIL DARK, BLIND TERROR, and many others, but this insipid piece is even worse than the recent cheese of PENTHOUSE NORTH. The grey, washed-out cinematography is the perfect accompaniment to the blandest of story lines. A hotline operator finds herself stalked by one of her clients, a deeply disturbed guy with murder in mind. He turns up at her place of work one night, and murders ensue...

Where to start with this film? Everything's wrong about it, from the forgettable acting to the one-dimensional characters (including much of the 'cannon fodder' supporting cast), poor script, silly kill scenes, and an almost entire lack of menace throughout. Corri English is acceptable in the central role - playing a blind character is never easy - but everyone else is poor. This includes B-movie starlet Traci Lords and Tyler Mane (X-MEN), the latter playing the rather uninteresting killer. Despite the short running time, this goes on and on for what seems like an age, until an ending which cuts things off abruptly just when it was getting interesting.
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4/10
HE IS A BIT CHALLENGING
nogodnomasters11 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
John (Tyler Mane) is a psychotic kidnapper and killer who calls the crisis center and only talks to Sam (Corri English). Sam is a young blind woman who has survived a tragedy. The film develops her character and those at the center. We wait for the plot and subplot to come together with the formula results.

John kills his victims by casual choking. There isn't any blood. This is more of a mild horror film of a blind woman's fight for survival. "Penthouse North" was better for those who like to watch blind women out smart those with sight.

Guide: No f-bombs, sex, or nudity. Traci Lords at age 46.
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5/10
Saved by the ending
begob8 February 2015
Warning: Spoilers
This gets into its pace early on, with a good sequence of voices in the ether. The situation has potential and the characters are clear.

I found myself losing interest in the middle, I think because the killer is bog standard with nothing to make him stand out. Might as well have been Frankenstein's monster. Also the violence isn't interesting, too safe.

When they ramp up the tension they have to use sound effects with a silly double bump-in-the-dark. Then we get the usual lame choices that the hunted always make to annoy the audience. And there was one really good jump scare in the elevator that they didn't execute properly.

For all the criticism the ending is good. I'd been wondering all along why they made the heroine blind, but that finally delivers good irony. Pity they didn't spend more time on it, let the killer reveal some complexity.

Overall, a straight story that steadily runs out of inspiration, only to reel it back in the final moments.
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2/10
You are kidding me, right?
joeywilderjustiss18 March 2015
Warning: Spoilers
There is ABSOLUTELY nothing interesting about this film. Well, I take that back. There are some great resources for a suicide hotline, etc. in the rolling credits at the end! It may be necessary because this movie made me want to end it all. I can appreciate that Traci Lords was in the film as a cat enthusiast and maybe forgive the force that was the new Michael Myers in the Halloween remakes. That is where it ends. Not a good film! Not scary! Has been done before and done better. I just don't know why this was made except for the fact that someone just wanted to make a film. Just because you can does not mean you should. And, you shouldn't have made this one...period!! I don't get why I cared if the kid lived...after the rolling credits ended...after the girl survives...after everyone else dies. Whoever gave this glowing reviews has to be a Hollywood crony, somewhere along the line, because that would be the only reason anyone might speak favorable about his one. No! No! No! No thank you!!
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1/10
Absolute rubbish
witchathome10 March 2015
I don't know if i watched the same film as the other reviewers to be honest, I didn't witness great acting, jumpy scenes or anything they have said was so good. Too convenient situations, lame script and a ridiculous bad guy. I laughed and raised an eyebrow more than jumping or being concerned for the characters. Trash! Its boring, slow, predictable and just yawn! I wouldn't suggest it to anyone, never gonna get that time back. I don't want to give too much away but suffice to say it's not worth the trouble or your electricity usage. Not only is the bad guy a psycho, he is an aggravating geezer with insect issue...... really? i mean seriously really?
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2/10
Painful to Watch
darthvoice26 September 2015
Warning: Spoilers
So, this was just a bad film all around. Literally the only redeeming thing about this movie, the lead, she was at least a decent actress. That said, there are a few points I would like to bring up to the film's director that may help in future endeavors: 1) When crafting a film that features a killer played by one of the potentially most scary people in the business, it helps to create an air of mystery around his character. This adds menace and anticipation to the role and makes for a much more suspenseful film. The problems became apparent in the opening scene. The first mistake, showing the antagonist's face in the opening scene, by doing this, you immediately erase any possible buildup of menace. If this character has been murdering women for who knows how long, rather than showing his face, perhaps, while the phone call is progressing, show missing persons flyers of his victims while obscuring his face.

2) Showing his face in the opening, then inexplicably going into first person from his view made no sense. If you're going to have a fully visible and known killer, stick to third person, low angles, all of the high angles of the killer and first person killed the purpose of the film.

3) In the office confrontation scene, why was the main character crawling on hands and knees through glass WHILE calling out the killer's name? If she wanted to confront him, she could have easily just stood up rather than unnecessarily ran her hands over broken glass...

4) Finally, continuity is the key to good film making. Once the power is out and the characters use the stairs to go fix the power box, the elevator working made no sense. I understand that it was the central point of that scene, but even mentioning that it was on backup would have alleviated any issues I had.
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Really bad movie
shelleyfurniss4 February 2018
Absolutely horrific, story was boring and pointless. Bad acting, not so scary villan and the saviour boy of the day was pathetic.

Only watch if you have literally nothing else to watch.
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2/10
It should have been a short film...
Krackoon26 August 2015
Warning: Spoilers
'Devil May Cry' would have worked better as a short in an anthology film, like John Carpenter's 'Body Bags.' But as a feature length horror film, it falls short.

The whole serial killer calls into a hot line plot has been done a few times now, and even those films haven't managed to do it right. 'Psycho 4' comes to mind, but even a dying Anthony Perkins is still more frightening than Tyler Mane is here. The rest of the cast is easily forgettable, other than the ''great'' Traci Lords, who manages to land her roles thanks to her beauty (which has long passed her by, unfortunately.) Seriously, though, Traci, you look terrible, and you couldn't land a role in a high school play, based on your acting ability, if your life depended on it.

'Devil May Cry' goes on entirely way too long, because you can already guess what's coming next. Tyler Mane, as the films villain, is simply awful - he spends his screen time limping around aimlessly, calling people bugs/insects (Frightening, I know.) But thanks to his height and body size, he'll keep landing roles - especially if Rob Zombie continues to destroy the 'Halloween' series.

Random Ramblings of a Madman: When Traci Lords and Tyler Mane end up being your films most memorable actors/characters, it's safe to say you have failed miserably. 'Devil May Cry' is major snooze fest with wooden actors/characters, and cheesy dialogue.
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3/10
Starring Tyler Mane and Traci Lords.
BA_Harrison25 June 2016
Pretty blind counsellor Sam (Corri English) is on her last ever shift at the crisis centre when serial killer John (Tyler Mane), a regular user of the hot-line, pays a visit.

Devil May Call is pretty much what I expected from a horror film starring an ex-WCW wrestler and an ageing ex-pornstar: nothing to phone home about. To be fair, the film opens promisingly with a neat title sequence during which we hear a series of desperate calls to a crisis hot-line, followed by a tense scene in which a victim of serial killer John attempts to escape from the psycho's home while he is speaking to Sam on the phone. If only the rest of the film had been as 'edge of the seat', we might have had a unexpected treat on our hands.

As it stands, the film is a massive disappointment, with a predictable plot that plays out in dreary fashion until the forgettable finale (I won't go into detail since I've already forgotten how the film ends). Mane, as hulking weirdo John, is mildly menacing due to his size, but the film fails to chill or thrill as it should, director Jason Cuadrado fumbling the intended jump-scares and delivering zilch in the way of gore. Traci Lords, once every teenage boys' wet dream, plays Val, an unmarried middle-aged counsellor obsessed with cats.
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8/10
Great Flick!
brittanyd5 February 2015
The nice thing about Devil May Call is that its a compact story that packs a lot of punch. I was on the edge of my seat, and the nice thing about it was that I could watch it with just about anyone... without feeling the need to cover their or my eyes (or ears).

Corri English is fantastic and so is queen Traci Lords! She definitely stole the show.Though I would have liked to see her in the film more. I think the casting was done well, because not one star takes over the story. I was able to believe all of the actors in their characters.

The story flowed really well, I didn't have much to catch up with and I didn't get left behind by the story going too quickly.

I like that the gore wasn't excessive and I was never grossed out. A great thriller nonetheless!
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10/10
A Fully-Formed Creation
MikeyKup13 August 2021
First, a golden nugget of wisdom: "I always believed that survivors of trauma make the best counselors. Knowing the road, that's what makes a great guide. Every bit of change has a certain amount of push-back. You have to find the strength to know that you can fight it again, no matter what shape it takes."

This movie has a lot of great quotes, but I want to focus on the story.

Corrie English did an amazing job as Sam. I love the realism in this movie, as most of the characters have substance, a backstory.

As someone who has friends who've worked in call centers, and as someone who's volunteered for sort of a peer role in a similar way, this film hits home in a lot of ways.

John was an interesting character, but he wasn't explored very much in the ways of depth. He's clearly seen as an outcast with anger issues, and he hates the way people treat him. The only thing that makes him feel normal, or at peace, is talking to Sam, so he's become a repeated caller to Sam's crisis center. When he finds out through someone else that she's leaving, well... he tracks her down. What was once his place of comfort was the source of his greatest anger and rage.

Things like this happen, sometimes. It might not happen in the same way, but the story is pretty realistic in the way it represents the emotions of both the staff and the callers with certain issues.

Great film, and I especially like the narration at the end.

I'm not sure why this movie has such a low rating. I think it's great the way they implemented horror vibes to an otherwise dramatic plot of a suicide call center. The film was well done in all aspects.
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9/10
A Really Intense Thriller
pbghgirl1 February 2015
If you're looking for a movie to make you jump out of your seat this is it. The setting in a dilapidated building at night really adds to the creepy factor. Corri English is really convincing in her portrayal of a blind woman and her confidence while roaming around alone makes for a terrifying movie. I wanted to yell at her to be careful - a lot. Van Hansis is great as Jess. He's the typical sensitive insightful guy in a helping profession who you'd want on your side against a killer. There is one scene when he talks about being a bully and, in my opinion, it was the best "non-scary" scene in the film. Tyler Mane is his usual scary self and the stunt work in the scene with him and Van is pretty great. Check this one out if you want to be creeped out.
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10/10
Enjoyed it a lot!
universallafter5 February 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I'm not a big thriller/ horror movie fan, but I actually enjoyed Devil May Call so much! The story was unique, and the idea of having the lead be blind made everything that much more creepy!

I caught myself holding my breath, holding my own hand, and even jumping out of my seat a few times!

Corri English, who played Sam, did a great job at portraying a blind girl, and Tyler Mane, who played John, was the perfect killer! I was also surprised to see Traci Lords in it as Val, she did a great job!

I had fears of being alone in dark places before, but after this I've officially become paranoid. The elevator scene...... I literally wanted to scream and jump out of my own skin!

"Devil May Call" really is the perfect title for this film! The idea of a serial killer who phones in to a help hot-line center to get himself talked out of suicide is already creepy, but the fact that he gets so angry is terrifying! This is the type of thriller film I enjoy. Not too much gore and blood, it's more on the jumpy and psychological side.

I also thought that John's place is the perfect serial killer house!
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How about making a film with people who CARE rather than people (desperately) wanting to be 'famous'?!?!?!
UNOhwen24 September 2018
How many blind people appear; in glasses

How blind people always appear - in film; they never wear glasses, the performer always tries to show their... 'range' by never making... Eye contact, instead always having a gaze whisk is somewhere in the far-of distance.

Voila! Instant 'blind' person.

One is the best blind performances was Audrey Hepburn in the (truly) scary, Wait Until Dark (1967).

Hee is yet another performance, done by something straight out of 'Acme School of 'Acting'.

One thing I've noticed; since the argument of affordable professional(-like) equipment is 99.99% of ALL people involved in these truly awful (amateurish performers, terrible, cliché'd scripts) come from the southern states of the US.

Rarely do you see this...need to.. put their (un)talent in front of as many as possible from anger other than this area.

Their IS a logic (however pathetic); this is the same area of the country where 'beauty pageants' (even when they're babies), cheerleading, and all that is taut and repulsive is as big an industry as McDonald's and 'born-again' religion.

Here's what's wild; this area is also lounge to begging incapable of taking criticism - no matter how nicely put.

'Criticism' is a 'critique', i.e. laying out what's positive and negative in a given medium.

I've never (wasted my time and) watched (any) ('reality' show, nor) any contest, such as X Factor, but, the other dayci watched a video of try-outs for it, and all the ones I saw had the contestant walk in - always enthused, and then after giving a dreadful performance and told (politely) 'thanks, butt no thanks', they all turn into the most viscous children imaginable.

I didn't see one judge say anything rude (and when they did, it was only after having been repeatedly geared on by the contestant).

When a person is critiqued - especially in any entertainment area, it can (esp. at first) seem to be an attack, which it isn't. Rather than then trying to improve themselves, the outsole in there's shows just act like spoilt little monsters (and some - who are actually chronologically and physically adults) winner for their mums and dads.

I say this because there's many people who want to enter into the entertainment business (and it IS a business), and they study Ann's work at it for YEARS.

Until the past decade or so, there were real very few ways to 'get ones t for in the door', but now - with so many avenues, i.e., YouTube, the many cable, streaming channels, etc, as well as the cost of professional-like equipment dropping very low, one would think that people who are interested in trying to break in, would say to themselves,'i'm going to make sure that this project will be the best possible one. I'm going to find like-minded people to work with me on it, so the finished project will be a terrific showcase of all involved'.

One would think.

One would.. HOPE so.

But it seems that rather than grasping this - that the old adage - 'you get one shot at showing your best' would try, but, the amount of garbage cranked or is frightening.

No one - not in front , nor behind the camera - not any actor, nor writer, nor director, cinematographer, etc. shows anything worthy of praise, let all-in-one standing out. The best one can say is that they were smart enough to take the cap of the lens, but the script is pedantic, rather than having, showing any cleverness, originality. It's like everyone involved in this simply copied the multitude of (fill-in-the-blank), and did it.

Rather than studying acting, for even a semester, the actor seems to have said to herself, 'll saw so-and-so be blind, I'll just do that'. Same goes with the 'psycho killer', as well as all the tech people.

There's no originality, no creativity.

Someone like Robert Rodriguez - who came of age right before this glut of avenues to exhibit and the cheap cost of equipment worked - VERY hard - and then financed their first film ) El Mariachi) with his credit cards.

I guess that's a big part of what's the difference, even when he did this, he had to put himself on the line.

When one feels a connection between themselves and what it is they're offering up, be it a movie, a cake, a manuscript, or whatever, they really care about their 'baby', but, that care and concern seems to have been all but forgotten by many new wandse-be's of the last few years.

Not only is that a 'shame', but, as this deluge of drek continues, it'll finally reach a point where the people who control the 'faucets' will say, 'enough; no one watches it, no one requests it, it doesn't generate ANY returns'z

A the saying goes, in Hollywood, you're only s good as your last picture '.

These (primarily) southern US states wanna-be's better wake up, because in a business all about 'how much did you make' is paramount, the taps will turn dry on them.

One last thing; anytime you come across one of these.. films, and you see high ratings, when the majority are abysmal, they're almost always cranked out by a 'friend-of-a-friend' of those involved. Rather than trying to play by the rules of this business, they try to 'game' it, and is painfully obvious.

Rather than attempting to make a really good film with little budget,and focusing on a terrific story, they just crank out garbage, and then say it's 'the best film, ever', and all that does is anger people even more.

Lying never works.
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