''Call Me'' is a 1988 American

erotic thriller The erotic thriller is a film subgenre defined as a thriller with a thematic basis in illicit romance or sexual fantasy. Though exact definitions of the erotic thriller can vary, it is generally agreed "bodily danger and pleasure must remain i ...

film about a woman who strikes up a relationship with a stranger over the phone, and in the process becomes entangled in a murder. The film was directed by Sollace Mitchell, and stars

Patricia Charbonneau Patricia Charbonneau (born April 19, 1959) is an American actress, perhaps best known for playing the part of Cay Rivvers in '' Desert Hearts'' (1985), her first film role, for which she was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best F ...

Stephen McHattie Stephen McHattie Smith (born February 3, 1947) is a Canadian actor. Since beginning his professional career in 1970, he has amassed over 200 film and television credits. He won the Genie Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in '' ...

, and

Boyd Gaines Boyd Payne Gaines (born May 11, 1953) is an American actor. During his career, he has won four Tony Awards and three Drama Desk Awards. Gaines is best known for playing Mark Royer on ''One Day at a Time (1975 TV series), One Day at a Time'' (1981 ...

Plot

Anna, a young and energetic

journalist A journalist is a person who gathers information in the form of text, audio or pictures, processes it into a newsworthy form and disseminates it to the public. This is called journalism. Roles Journalists can work in broadcast, print, advertis ...

, receives an obscene call from an unknown caller whom she mistakes for her boyfriend. As a result of this mistake she agrees to meet with the caller at a local bar. There she witnesses a murder in the women's bathroom. She finds herself drawn into a mystery involving both the killer and the mysterious caller with whom she shares increasingly personal conversations.

Cast

as Anna *

as "Jellybean" *

as Bill *

Sam Freed Sam Freed (born August 29, 1948) is an American actor who has performed on Broadway and television and in movies. His first major regular role on television was as Bob Barsky in the last three seasons of '' Kate & Allie''. In the short-lived ser ...

as Alex *

Steve Buscemi Steven Vincent Buscemi (,As stated in interviews by Buscemi himself. It is not uncommon for people to pronounce his name or instead. ; born December 13, 1957) is an American actor. He is known for his work as an acclaimed character actor. Mul ...

as "Switchblade" *

Patti D'Arbanville Patricia D'Arbanville (born May 25, 1951)Willis, John; Monush, Barry (2006). Screen World: 2005 Film Annual, Volume 56'. New York: Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. p. 357. . is an American actress known for her appearance in Andy Warhol pr ...

as Cori *

David Strathairn David Russell Strathairn (; born January 26, 1949) is an American actor. Known for his leading roles on stage and screen, he has often portrayed historical figures such as Edward R. Murrow, J. Robert Oppenheimer, William H. Seward, and John D ...

as Sam *

Olek Krupa Aleksander Krupa (born 18 March 1947), often credited as Olek Krupa, is a Polish-American actor, active in film and television roles and best known for playing villains and/or criminals, such as in ''Eraser'', '' Blue Streak'', '' Home Alone 3'' ...

as Hennyk * John Seitz as "Pressure" * Pi Douglass as Nikki * George Gerdes as Fred *

Ernest Abuba Ernest Abuba (August 25, 1947 – June 21, 2022) was an American actor, playwright, and theatre director of Filipinos, Filipino descent. He appeared on stage and on film, with more than one hundred stage appearances, and was the co-founder of the ...

as Boss * Kevin Harris as Dude * Gy Mirano as The Waitress

Reception

The film was reviewed by the television show '' At the Movies,'' on May 28, 1988.

Roger Ebert Roger Joseph Ebert ( ; June 18, 1942 – April 4, 2013) was an American Film criticism, film critic, film historian, journalist, essayist, screenwriter and author. He wrote for the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' from 1967 until his death in 2013. Eber ...

called the film a "directorial mess", citing laborious scenes which serve only to set up plot points, some of which are never followed up on.

Gene Siskel Eugene Kal Siskel (January 26, 1946 – February 20, 1999) was an American film critic and journalist for the ''Chicago Tribune'' who co-hosted a movie review television series alongside colleague Roger Ebert. Siskel started writing for the '' ...

felt the premise had potential, but it was ruined by the lead character's relentless stupidity, and that the film did not take the sexual elements far enough. The critics gave the film two thumbs down.

External links

*
''Call Me'' at AllMovie

References

1988 films American crime thriller films American erotic thriller films 1988 crime thriller films 1980s erotic thriller films Films scored by David Michael Frank Films about telephony Vestron Pictures films 1980s English-language films 1980s American films English-language crime thriller films English-language erotic thriller films {{1980s-US-film-stub