The Calling [2025] – Movie Review (4/5)

THE CALLING (2025) is a new indie thriller with a home invasion plot that goes much deeper, and is far darker, than I expected. A very strong story with a character-driven plot and great casting all around. Read our full The Calling movie review here!

THE CALLING (2025) is a new thriller from filmmaker Mark Wilson. We loved his 2019 movie Wade in the Water, so our expectations were high. Perhaps even dangerously so. However, he delivered a very strong movie yet again.

This time, we’re getting a home invasion plot that centers on a story about a witch. That’s the very brief description, but the actual story surprises as it goes much deeper than that. It’s also a lot darker than I ever expected, which makes it hit hard. In all the right ways!

Continue reading our The Calling movie review below. The movie will make its World Premiere at the Dances with Films Festival on June 21, 2025.

A Home Invasion plot always gets to me

The Calling is about the young woman, Virginia (Danika Golombek), who has just earned her master’s degree and is ready to embark on life. However, her father needs her to stick around a little longer to look after her young brother Edward (Grayson Eddey).

She agrees to put her life on hold (once again!) as their dad needs to work away from home for a longer period of time. While Virginia loves her kind and smart brother, Edward, she’s ready to leave home. Still, their bond is strong, and she won’t let him down, so she stays.

Then things go from a little unfortunate to downright terrifying, and strange things keep happening around the house. Doors are left open, and things are moved around. Someone is in and around their house, which both angers and scares the two siblings.

Could it be The Calling Witch?

And then they see a mysterious woman, who is clearly the one tormenting them in their own home. The woman appears to be the embodiment of their late author-mother’s infamous character: The Calling Witch.

Though obviously a fictional creation, The Calling Witch is very much flesh and blood for the siblings. How do you fight something like that? Well, the woman seems to be inadvertently leaving clues, so they follow those… to a truly shocking conclusion.

As the siblings fight to survive, they also uncover shocking truths about the real nature of the threat they’re facing that force them to question everything.

While on the surface, The Calling is a home-invasion thriller, it delivers so much more than that. Still, if you’re a fan of the iconic home invasion stories from The Strangers, The Accused, or even Crumb Catcher, then this one is perfect for you.

Watch The Calling film festival world premiere

Director Mark Wilson continues to impress with his latest thriller (that has elements that feel straight out of a horror movie), and I cannot wait to see what comes next. If you haven’t watched his previous feature film, Wade in the Water, then do yourself a favor and watch it!

The screenwriter for this previous movie, Chris Retts, also wrote The Calling. Clearly, these two make an excellent genre filmmaking duo. The kind that shares a vision of how to create efficient scares and intensity within a character-driven story.

One that offers a lot more than first meets the eye.

The Wade in the Water alumni continue to shine on The Calling with Cinematographer Thomas Rose and Composer Jacob Boyd. For me, the concept and execution work wonderfully on their own, but the cast truly brings the storytelling to its conclusion.

Danika Golombek and Grayson Eddey are completely natural as the siblings, while Nathalie Söderqvist (The Look-See) is both terrifying and oddly relatable as the woman tormenting the siblings. Also in the cast is Hilary Barraford (Kevin Can F**k Himself), who also executive produces.

You should watch The Calling whenever you get the chance, and do avoid spoilers before you watch it. It’s only now starting its film festival run, so keep your eye out for the 2025 indie thriller The Calling.

The Calling World Premiere is at the Dances with Films Festival, June 21, 2025.

Details

Director: Mark Wilson
Writer: Chris Retts
Cast: Danika Golombek, Grayson Eddey, Nathalie Söderqvist, Marcus DeAnda, Zachary Cowan, Greg Lutz , Hilary Barraford

Images: @grave.daisy & The Calling