In a past life, I was an independent filmmaker. Okay, really I was a high school student trying to decide if pursuing a career in filmmaking was right for me. Ultimately, I abandoned the idea in favor of computer science, but today I still miss the fun that came with writing, shooting, and editing a short film. So I was delighted when the Daws brothers approached me to screen and review their first feature-length independent film…

Dangerous Calling

First, a trailer:

[qt:http://www.dangerouscalling.com/videos/trailer.mov 480 288]

(If that didn’t load, try this version on YouTube.)

It’s always difficult to know what to expect with an independent film. Almost all indie films are produced on a small budget, but just because they’re not filmed in Hollywood with A-list actors doesn’t mean they’re not worth watching. It all depends on how well the directors know their craft and are able to use what little money they have to produce the best possible film.

With Dangerous Calling, it is obvious that co-directors Josh and Jeremiah Daws know exactly what they’re doing. The 90-minute film packs all of the punch that a Hollywood film with a small cast would. The film plays out like a well-developed Hollywood thriller without any of the typical Hollywood nonsense that usually accompanies big-budget films in the same genre (unnecessary swearing, unfunny comic relief, etc.).

The film’s story brings Pastor Evan Burke and his wife Nora to a new town where Evan is assuming the lead role at a church where the previous pastor died a sudden death. As it turns out, this church comes with plenty of baggage, seen as somewhat of a “country club” to much of the town. The film’s main message surrounds this notion of a church community being so worried about “protecting” its members that it ultimately shuns those that need church guidance the most.

Hang on, don’t run away yet. Dangerous Calling is not a preachy film by any stretch of the word. Trust me – I’m the first to abandon a movie I feel is thrusting any kind of religious message on me. This film is quite the opposite. Wrapped in an intriguing murder-mystery, Dangerous Calling provides important commentary on the current state of organized religion in which those who donate the most feel entitled to have control over church, regardless of how misguided their views are.

In this film, the ultimately-insidious character of Miss Pat represents that little old lady who sits in the front pew of your church day after day, politely thanking the pastor for his sermon, then turning around to condemn to hell those who don’t pray 10 hours a day. The film suggests that perhaps religion should simply be about feeling good with one’s beliefs, whatever they might be, rather than forcing any particular set of beliefs onto anyone. That’s a religious message I can stand behind.

If there is a negative to Dangerous Calling, it occasionally surfaces within the acting. For me, the beginning of the film was slow, with some of the actors’ performances falling flat. Once the movie’s pace picked up, the acting no longer became an issue. The lead actress, Carrie Walrond, is definitely the star of this film. While at first I felt no connection with her character, she grew to become very likable within the first third of the film and by the end I felt attached and sympathetic. Though I must say I couldn’t get past her striking, almost separated-at-birth resemblance to Hollywood actress Kelli Williams:

Left: Dangerous Calling star, Carrie Walrond; Right: The Practice star, Kelli Williams

After watching the behind-the-scenes extra on the Dangerous Calling DVD, it became clear to me that Jackie Prucha is a fantastic actress, as her real persona doesn’t even remotely resemble her character, the crazy church lady Miss Pat. This role called for Prucha to be guardedly polite one moment and devilishly mean the next and she showed off both traits perfectly.

I couldn’t fully review Dangerous Calling without at least mentioning Brandon O’Dell and his character of Elijah Hinton, Miss Pat’s son, who is clearly pegged with the “killer” role in the film’s trailer above. Throughout the film, Elijah remains mostly silent, occasionally delivering tiny sentences (in both word count and volume). He gives off a Steve Buschemi vibe though appropriately doesn’t reach the level of insanity that Buschemi often does in his films. Personally, I would have liked to have seen Elijah’s character be more prevalent in the early stages of the film, allowing for bigger thrills later on.

Rounding out the major cast players is Stephen Caudill in the role of Pastor Evan Burke. Unfortunately, I don’t have much else to say. Evan is a purely one-dimensional character who I never felt a connection with. While the story surrounds his arrival as the new pastor of the church, his character feels like nothing more than a plot device that builds the basis for the tension that drives the rest of the film. Caudill’s charming face definitely works in a young pastor role, though he didn’t have much to work with in the way of dialogue.

In the end, despite the subject matter, I wouldn’t call Dangerous Calling a “Christian film.” It’s a good movie with a fun and thrilling murder-mystery that happens to have something to say about the state of the Christian church. If you’re looking for solid entertainment from outside of Hollywood, Dangerous Calling is definitely a worthwhile viewing.

You can find out more about Dangerous Calling and purchase the DVD at dangerouscalling.com.