Night Caller (1976)

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This odd adult movie could actually have been a good creepy suspenser if it wasn't trapped by it's pornographic expectations.

Bobby (David Book) is obsessed with his neighbor Carol (Monique Starr). He already has strange sexual tastes involving the telephone, and he torments Carol with obscene calls after witnessing her and her husband (Ken Scudder) get intimate. The film spends the majority of its running time showing us Bobby's sex life which involves listening in on a transvestite prostitute, and having hookers himself. He keeps returning to the telephone, however, and eventually finds a way to get inside Carol's apartment while her husband is away.

Book actually turns in a decent performance as the demented title subject, whose behavior is unsuccessfully explained away by the fact that his mother and sister were both off-kilter in their relationship with a young Bobby. Starr is also very good in her role, although screenwriter Rogers stretches credibility by having us believe that Bobby's particular accent is unrecognizable in person after Carol befriends him. Spinelli's direction is limited, but the sound design involving the telephone and Bobby's various obscene calls is nicely recorded. The sexual scenes are not filmed to be erotic. I am wondering what the raincoat crowd thought of this when it was playing in those famous grindhouse theaters we always hear about. The sleaze factor is high, I was reminded of "Looking for Mr. Goodbar" and "10 to Midnight" while watching this, and the final scene is not arousing in the least.

Stats:
(1976) 75 min. (0 *) out of five stars
-Directed by Anthony Spinelli
-Written by Dean Rogers
-Cast: David Book, Monique Starr, Ken Scudder, Valerie Franklin, Joan Devlon, Vernon von Bergdorfe, Enjil von Bergdorfe, Ritz Zisk, Linda York, Anthony Spinelli
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