If you like giallo, then you should check out ‘Night Caller.’
With the hugely entertaining Night Caller now available on various VOD platforms, we decided to talk to writer and director Chad Ferrin about the process of developing and producing the interesting new psychic-themed film.
Night Caller stars Susan Priver as Clementine Carter, a spiritual medium who takes it upon herself to hunt down a crazed serial killer who calls her hotline. It also stars Robert Miano, Steven Railsback, Bai Ling, and The Walking Dead’s Lew Temple.
Regardless of how you feel about alleged psychics in real life, Night Caller was still an enjoyable and thought-provoking slasher movie that’ll no doubt entertain even the most resolute skeptics. We awarded it a score of four out of five stars in our review, and if you were hoping to learn more about the acclaimed film, we hope you enjoy our interview with Ferrin below.
Dread Central: So, I should probably start by asking why you named your production company Crappy World Films?
Chad Ferrin: Back in 1998 I had a very pessimistic outlook on life, so I took my initials and Crappy World Films was born.
DC: What made you want to tell a story about such a depraved serial killer?
CF: I wanted to make a nature vs nurture giallo. The killer and the heroine are polar opposites to one another, sort of yin and yang. Clementine had a decent upbringing that molded her into the person that she is, and the killer had the worst possible upbringing which created the monster that he is. And in giving the audience an unfiltered glimpse into those two worlds, I feel gives a better understanding of their motivations as heroic or depraved as they are.
DC: Was there any particular reason you decided to set the story in LA?
CF: I live in LA, and usually the budgets I work with don’t allow for travel. Plus, the cinematic history of California ain’t too shabby.
DC: Was it a challenge to write Susan as a strong character without leaning too heavily into the standard vigilante investigator troupes?
CF: I based her in part on my mother, who was the strongest human being I’ve ever known. She had an amazing devotion to her family, and a never give up on your goals attitude. That turned out to be a solid foundation for writing the character. Add a dash of Catriona MacColl in “The Gates of Hell” and bam!
DC: Can you talk about the cast?
CF: Always a pleasure working with my John Ford-style stock company of Robert Miano, Silvia Spross, Robert Rhine, Kelli Maroney, Bai Ling, and Scott Vogel. And when Miano got Steve Railsback on board it was a dream come true, as I’m a huge fan of Lifeforce, Cockfighter, Turkey Shoot, and The Stunt Man.
Because of Steve, we tried to get James Woods to play his father, seeing they did their first film together, Elia Kazan’s The Visitors. It would have been an epic reunion. Unfortunately, Mr. Woods wasn’t available, but Lew Temple came in at the last minute and really nailed it. I was also in talks with the fantastic Yaphet Kotto, he was going to play the role of the homeless man which was a much larger role originally. Unfortunately, he passed away before the shoot.
DC: I thought the soundtrack by Richard Band was also strongly effective. The song played during the opening credits was particularly haunting. Could you talk about this?
CF: This was my third collaboration with Richard, we have sort of shorthand at this point. For temp score, I used Jerry Goldsmith’s “Magic” and asked him to give me something that feels like that, and he delivered in spades. The opening song is, “That’s All Right Mama” by Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup. Luckily, it had recently fallen into the public domain, and we were able to use it. Definitely starts the film off on the right track.
DC: Lastly, I should probably ask how you feel about psychics/mediums in real life?
CF: Having had déjà vu numerous times throughout my life, I’m sure that there are people out there with the gift.
