Calls
Calls is an innovative mystery thriller miniseries that premiered on Apple TV+ in March 2021. Created by Fede Álvarez, the show is an English-language adaptation of a French series. Its unique format presents nine interconnected stories primarily through audio, simulating phone conversations and radio communiqués, accompanied by minimal abstract visualizers and subtitles. The series delves into a mysterious narrative where characters experience bizarre and terrifying phenomena, leading to an impending apocalyptic event. The storytelling relies heavily on sound design, voice acting, and the viewer's imagination to build suspense and horror. It features a notable voice cast including Lily Collins, Nick Jonas, Rosario Dawson, and Pedro Pascal. The content, while visually minimalistic, explores mature themes and intense situations, positioning it for an adult audience interested in psychological horror and speculative fiction.
Concerns
Violence
HighThe series depicts intense violence through graphic audio descriptions and implied events rather than explicit visuals, which can be highly disturbing as it leverages the viewer's imagination. This includes detailed accounts of physical deterioration and death during an apocalyptic event.
The series includes 'cruel and unusual death' described through audio, with characters detailing 'bones breaking, faces melting, arms stretching' as they are 'corrected' by the universe. In the first episode, 'The End,' a horrified Sara calls 911, describing an inhuman intruder with incredibly long arms, and is later found mutilated, with her and Tim's final words indicating they are 'swallowed presumably'. Reviews highlight that while blood isn't seen, 'the terrors that lurk out in these darkened streets are conscientiously described by our unseen callers'.
Profanity
HighThe series features frequent and strong profanity, including multiple uses of the 'f-word' and 's-word,' as well as misuses of religious terms, making it a high concern for parents.
The 'f-word' is used approximately 14 times, and the 's-word' about half that many, appearing 'with some regularity' throughout the series. Additionally, the content includes other profanities, instances of 'a--,' and multiple misuses of God's name, including two in conjunction with 'd--n,' and Jesus' name abused once.
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe series is designed to be intensely frightening and psychologically disturbing, relying heavily on auditory cues and the viewer's imagination to create a palpable sense of dread, fear, and impending doom, escalating to apocalyptic scenarios.
Reviews consistently describe 'Calls' as 'bone-chilling,' 'unnerving,' and a 'creepy TV series that feels like radio horror,' emphasizing its ability to 'burrow deep into your nerves'. The sound design utilizes 'distorted phone lines, overlapping voices, sudden silences, and environmental noise' to create invasive tension. The episode 'Is There a Scientist on the Plane?' depicts passengers' extreme horror as they receive news of their own plane crashing while still airborne, generating intense psychological distress.
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumWhile the audio-only format precludes visual nudity or explicit sexual acts, the series includes mature romantic themes, infidelity, and a discussion of abortion, contributing to a moderate level of parental concern.
In the first episode, 'The End,' there is a plot point involving infidelity where Tim, a character, has been cheating on his long-distance girlfriend, Sara, with his manager, Camila. The series also features a character, Mark, mentioning 'the possibility of abortion' to another character, Andy, during a conversation, addressing a mature and sensitive topic.
Witchcraft & Occult
MediumThe show incorporates supernatural phenomena and reality-altering events within a science fiction/mystery thriller framework, but it does not delve into explicit witchcraft, occult rituals, or demonic possession in a traditional sense. The themes are more aligned with cosmic horror and time/dimensional distortion.
The overarching narrative involves mysterious phone calls that 'cross dimensional barriers' and lead to a pre-apocalyptic scenario, suggesting supernatural or unexplained forces at play rather than traditional occult practices. Characters encounter phenomena such as 'doppelgangers and time-loops,' which are presented as consequences of a 'reality-altering machine' rather than magical spells or demonic influence.
Substance Use
MediumThe series includes references to both alcohol and drug use through dialogue, though the audio-only format means no visual depiction of consumption is present. These references contribute to a moderate level of concern.
A character references a 'mutual friend who was on drugs,' indicating drug use within the narrative, albeit off-screen. Additionally, characters are heard discussing plans for alcohol consumption, such as Mark and another character talking about 'getting a beer sometime'.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumThe series includes instances of characters exhibiting defiance and anger, particularly in interpersonal relationships and concerning societal expectations. These behaviors are explored through dialogue and implied actions.
Mark's character expresses a rebellious stance against the idea of fatherhood, stating he 'can't be a dad himself' due to his perceived abandonment by his own father. He also engages in a defiant act by punching a garage door, which results in a bleeding hand and is a recurring topic of conversation, demonstrating a physical expression of anger or frustration.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
LowNo explicit or implied LGBTQ+ characters, relationships, or themes are identified within the content of the 'Calls' TV series based on available parental reviews and community discussions. All mandatory LGBTQ-specific searches for the show itself yielded no relevant results.
The mandatory explicit searches for 'Calls' combined with keywords such as 'lgbtq', 'gay', 'lesbian', 'transgender', 'queer representation', and 'LGBTQ characters', as well as searches for the director's stance on LGBTQ representation, did not yield any specific mentions of LGBTQ+ content within the series.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowThe content analysis did not identify explicit anti-Christian themes, mockery of Christian beliefs, or sacrilegious acts within the series. While profanity includes misuses of God's name, this does not extend to a broader anti-Christian narrative.
No specific examples of characters mocking or insulting Christian beliefs, depicting violent acts against Christian symbols, or promoting anti-Christian messages were found in the available reviews and content summaries. The misuse of God's name, as noted in the profanity section, does not constitute a central anti-Christian theme for the series as a whole.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
18+ due to pervasive strong language, intensely disturbing themes, implied graphic violence, and mature thematic elements that rely on psychological terror rather than visual depiction, making it potentially more unsettling for younger viewers.
Additional Notes
The unique audio-only format of 'Calls' means that while explicit visual content (like gore or nudity) is absent, the show masterfully uses sound and detailed verbal descriptions to create intense and disturbing imagery within the viewer's imagination, which can be even more impactful than visual portrayals. Parents should be aware that the lack of visuals does not diminish the maturity or intensity of the content.
Related Reviews
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