When the Dark Man Calls (1995 TV Movie) User Reviews

A Good Thriller Having a Few Clichés

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 25 February 2004]

Dr. Julianne Kaiser (Joan Van Ark) is a psychiatrist, who has some clients and hosts a talk show in the radio. She has a daughter and is divorcing from her husband Max (Barry Flatman). She has a brother, Lloyd Carson (Chris Sarandon), who is a constructor. Julliane has a trauma: twenty-five years ago, when she was a teenager, her parents were killed and she accused Parmenter (Geoffrey Lewis), a man who lived in a small room in the back of her house. He was condemned to twenty-five years in prison, but he always claimed he was innocent. When Parmenter is released, he looks for revenge against Julianne. This movie is a good thriller, having a few clichés. Its greatest problem is the running time, too long for the plot. But hooks the attention until the end of the story. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): `Quando a Morte Chama' (`When Death Calls')

Television Movie with Joan Van ARK and James READ

[ZeddaZogenau · 6/10 · 3 December 2023]

The psychotherapist Julie Kaiser (Joan Van ARK) carries a severe childhood trauma with her: she witnessed the murder of her parents. After 25 years, the alleged murderer (Geoffrey LEWIS) is released and vows revenge. A smart police officer (James READ, known from NORTH AND SOUTH) stands by the frightened Julie...

In this film, Joan Van ARK finally has a nice bed scene with her colleague James READ, and in KNOTS LANDING, as brave Valene Ewing, she had to leave the really hot scenes to her eternal opponent Abby Cunningham (Donna MILLS). By the way, Chris SARANDON is there as Julianne's brother.

Poor acting, a predictable plot and hackneyed dialogue make this a bad movie.

[pjedicke · 2/10 · 18 July 2001]

First, the plot. (No spoiler.) A radio call-in show host has repressed the memory of her parents' murder, and things get scary when the man, convicted of the murder by her testimony, gets out of prison 25 years later.

I think this is an awful movie. The "thriller" ending won't surprise you, and the plot twists are silly on top of being predictable. The acting is below average, except for Chris Sarandon, and his role is not very challenging. Joan Van Ark is on the screen for almost every shot, and I'm sorry to say that she just can not carry the movie. I watched it through to the end only because she's very attractive and has great legs. And the director uses every contrived chance to show off her legs.

Highly recommend! Joan van Ark is so Hot!

[Knotslanding1993 · 10/10 · 18 December 2013]

Highly recommend! Joan van Ark is so Hot!

This isn't the greatest movie in terms of the plot, but in terms of Joan van Ark's sex appeal on screen it is 100+! This is one of the only movies where they use her great body in a movie. Credit to the writers and director for family using her hot body and good looks in a film. They obviously use several opportunities to say how good looking she is. James Reed says, I almost forgot how beautiful you are. She is a shrink and her patient has a huge crush on her and says how pretty she is. She goes to visit her brother at a construction site and all the construction workers whistle and freak out and say things like I think I've died and gone to haven. But the best part is a really hot, sexy love scene with Joan and James Reed, complete with no music and sexual sound effects by Van Ark. Watching this is slow motion is amazing! Joan grits her teeth and is naked up on James Reed. When I watch that love scene, I seriously can't breathe it is just oh my god amazing! I only wish it was longer!! There are also several scenes where Joan is undressing and in her underwear and a scene where a man tries to shoot her while she is conveniently undressing, so when he fires the gun she goes diving on the side of the bed in curled up position in her underwear that is almost a thong. If you are a Joan van Ark fan you will most certainly enjoy the movie and if you just want to see a hot women, buy the movie!! I do recommend this movie to everyone!! She wears lots of short skirt and sexy bras in the movie and her acting is top notch! The first time I watched, the plot kept me interested, but to re-watch, the story isn't that interesting, I just re watch to see the most beautiful hot women in history JOAN VAN ARK! She was also 50-52 when she made this film, she is just incredible. She looked maybe 35. Sex Bomb!!