This supernatural thriller, “The Calling” (2000), concerns a woman on the Isle of Man (Laura Harris) who grows increasingly uneasy as her son displays a lack of empathy and her friend/employer (Alice Krige) appears to be replacing her. A mysterious taxi driver (Francis Magee) also adds to the unsettling atmosphere. The film shares narrative similarities with “Bless the Child,” but maintains a more subdued approach. It combines elements reminiscent of "Rosemary’s Baby" with the eerie feel and unclear plot of "Nomads," along with touches of "The Seventh Sign" and "The Wicker Man." While competently made, it doesn't quite measure up to these inspirations because it lacks engagement, and the ending poses several unanswered questions—though I was eventually able to piece things together with some outside assistance. I generally appreciate films that require active participation from the viewer to understand them, but this one didn’t fully hold my attention, even though the scenery and overall atmosphere are impressive. It's comparable in quality to “To the Devil a Daughter.” Even with its noticeable CGI effects, "Bless the Child" proves to be the more effective film due to its heightened suspense and clearer narrative. The movie has a running time of 1 hour, 29 minutes and was filmed in Cornwall and London, England. GRADE: C

Source on TMDB