“Call Girl” (2014): Devious Video-Chat Plan Ends with Monstrous Results

The micro short film Call Girl from Sixx Tape Productions (www.sixxtape.com) takes a simple yet effective approach to its horror tale of a prostitute’s visit to a john’s house. Using a single point of view, one set, and two actors, this short manages to deliver some jolts and striking effects.

Shot from a webcam POV – complete with with lagging – by cinematographer Brian Hicks, Call Girl opens with Ed (Laurence R. Harvey of The Human Centipede II and The Human Centipede III)  chatting cryptically with someone online. We hear his end of the conversation and though we  cannot read the written replies, we can take an educated guess that he is up to no good. The film is set in a brightly lit, well-appointed living room painted a vivid red. His expected visitor arrives; she is a comely call girl named Mitzy (Tristan Risk of American Mary fame). After some awkward initial small talk, Ed  excuses himself to get “protection” –  and things become suddenly clear, brutal, gory, and unexpected.

This debut short from director and production designer Jill VI Gevargizian is quite an admirable calling card. She makes the most of Eric Haven’s fast-moving story and paces the proceedings well. She also coaxes ace performances from her two-person cast. As a matter of fact, the most impressive element of Call Girl for me is the  top-notch acting on display. Laurence R. Harvey comes across immediately as an utter creep, grimacing and making disturbing expressions as he stares directly at the viewers, making them de facto participants in his plans. Tristan Risk also makes an impact as the titular character, initially playing coquettish, then turning inquisitive, and – well, the rest would be telling.

I give  Call Girl a hearty recommendation as  a nifty story that runs just about four-and-a-half minutes long that is bolstered by chilling performances. It is also the  inaugural directorial effort from  Jill VI Gevargizian, who has gone on to fulfill her promise, recently wrapping up her sixth short film.

Call Girl: (3.5 / 5)

Joseph Perry

Joseph Perry fell in love with horror films as a preschooler when he first saw the Gill-Man swim across the TV screen in "The Creature from The Black Lagoon" and Mothra battle Godzilla in "Godzilla Vs. The Thing.” His education in fright fare continued with TV series such as "The Twilight Zone" and "Outer Limits," along with legendary northern California horror host Bob Wilkins’ "Creature Features." His love for silver age and golden age comic books, including horror titles from Gold Key, Dell, and Marvel started around age 5.

He is a contributing writer for the "Phantom of the Movies VideoScope" and “Drive-In Asylum” print magazines and the websites Horror Fuel, Diabolique Magazine, The Scariest Things, B&S About Movies, and When It Was Cool. He is a co-host of the "Uphill Both Ways" pop culture nostalgia podcast and also writes for its website. Joseph occasionally proudly co-writes articles with his son Cohen Perry, who is a film critic in his own right.

A former northern Californian and Oregonian, Joseph has been teaching, writing, and living in South Korea since 2008.