It’s a well known trope in horror movies for the characters to make baffling, poor decisions that set themselves up to be put into a dangerous situation, which inevitably incites shouts at the screen from viewers. When used properly, this can be an effective tool to raise tension. Used too much, however, and it can instead invoke incredulous frustration, which can create an emotional detachment for the characters’ well-being. Those Who Call, from writer/director Anubys Lopez, toes the line between those two points while delivering an archetypal tale of backwoods cultists terrorizing two lost motorists.

After the death of their father under mysterious circumstances, estranged sisters Ana (Angie Sandoval) and Sandra (Yetlanezi Rodriguez) embark on a lengthy road trip in hopes to reconnect, while also attempting to uncover clues regarding his passing. The tension between the two is evident immediately, and only ramps up as the film progresses. The source of their contention is primarily Ana’s absence over the last few years, but it’s clear these siblings just generally can’t get along. 

Running low on gas and in the middle of nowhere in Texas, they eventually wind up at a derelict gas station in the town of Whispering Pines. In a scene that’s an unapologetic homage to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, they have an odd run-in with the attendee that helps set the pace for the remainder of the story.

They eventually predictably run out of gas on an isolated road near the woods, where their situation quickly turns dire. Stalked by strange, cult-like hooded figures, they must rely on each other to find a way to safety.

 A large chunk of the remainder of the movie features the two stumbling through the woods, bickering constantly, as we learn pieces of the mystery of their father’s death. While this plot point does serve an overall purpose, it ends up encompassing far too much of the already meager hour and fifteen minute runtime. The incessant arguing amongst the two leads is presumably there to showcase their deep rooted conflicts, but instead comes off as grating and repetitive, which impedes the connection between them and the audience

There are a number of script issues involving dicey dialogue, and those aforementioned bewildering poor decisions. Sandoval and Rodriguez are both undoubtedly confident, talented actresses, who unfortunately find themselves at the mercy of inadequate writing to deliver their lines. 

Those Who Call is also plagued by technical complications that come mostly from poor lighting. A considerable portion of the movie is filmed at night, but the scenes are so dark that it’s difficult to discern what’s going on, which causes confusion during some pretty pivotal moments. 

Despite these roadblocks, there IS a final payoff, and although it may prove satisfying for some, it could very well be a case of too little, too late for others. Those Who Call can technically be classified as horror, but it runs fairly low on the spectrum as far as actual scares and body count go. Ultimately, this is a film that will appeal to a small portion of moviegoers, but will prove frustrating and monotonous for many.

5 out of 10