Fede Álvarez’s latest production ‘Calls’ is not effective in raising the goosebumps and panic it promises
When the trailer for Calls dropped, I was looking forward to the way the mediums of animation and audio calls would merge to create a wholly immersive experience, episode after episode. The fact that Evil Dead director Fede Álvarez was attached to it was an added bonus.
One can tell that the Coronavirus pandemic served as a signal-boost for Álvarez’s inspiration for Calls. Many shows veered towards podcasting or webcam-style formats to drive the narratives but Calls is something that is inherently unusual. Admittedly, adjusting to the peculiar format of the series took some time; I would recommed taking on the mindset before delving into the show.
Though each episode (about 20 miutes long) has different sets of callers — a long-distance relationship being tested, a married couple with a sketchy neighbour, a father and son meeting for the first time — the…