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The Call of Charlie

A trendy Los Angeles couple sets up a blind date for two of their friends, one of whom is an ancient evil deity vibrating with pure malice. Unfortunately, on the evening of the rendezvous, two interlopers unexpectedly arrive at dinner to make the situation all the more awkward. A macabre comedy of manners, influenced by Luis Buñuel, David Lynch and/or H.P. Lovecraft. Alternately amusing and disturbing.

  • Nick Spooner
    Director
  • Guy Benoit
    Writer
    Exhumed, Atomic Brain Invasion, The Last Halloween
  • John Simpson
    Writer
  • Nick Spooner
    Writer
  • John Malina
    Producer
  • Brooke Smith
    Key Cast
    The Silence of The Lambs, Interstellar, Ray Donovan, Law & Order: SVU, Grey's Anatomy
  • Harry Sinclair
    Key Cast
    The Lord of The Rings: The Fellowship of The Ring, The Lord of The Rings: The Return of The King
  • Evan Arnold
    Key Cast
    Mad Men (Series Finale), Masters of Sex, Garfield
  • Roberta Valderrama
    Key Cast
    The Purge: Anarchy, 10 Items or Less
  • Kristin Slaysman
    Key Cast
    Promised Land, About Last Night, This is Martin Bonner
  • Sven Holmberg
    Key Cast
    Me & You & Everyone We Know
  • Bradley Bundlie
    Key Cast
    The Babysitter Murders, Looses Ends
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Horror, Comedy, Sci-Fi
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 22 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 18, 2016
  • Production Budget:
    40,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Arri Alexa
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Fangoria FearCON
    Phoenix, AZ
    United States
    October 2, 2016
    Arizona Premiere
    Winner - Best Short Film
  • Shriekfest Film Festival
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    October 6, 2016
    Los Angeles Genre Premiere
  • Sacramento Horror Film Festival
    Sacramento, CA
    United States
    October 7, 2016
  • H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival
    Portland, OR
    United States
    October 7, 2016
    U.S. Northwest Premiere
    Winner - Audience Choice Award
  • H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival
    Providence, RI
    United States
    August 19, 2016
    U.S. East Coast Premiere
  • Pawtucket Film Festival
    Pawtucket, RI
    United States
    October 14, 2016
  • Bram Stoker International Film Festival
    Whitby
    United Kingdom
    October 27, 2016
    Northern England Premiere
  • HollyShorts Film Festival
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    August 11, 2016
  • Shock & Gore Film Festival
    Birmingham
    United Kingdom
    July 19, 2016
    Worldwide Premiere
    Winner - Best Short Film
  • California International Shorts Film Festival
    Los Angeles, CA
    United States
    June 25, 2016
    Los Angeles Premiere
  • Haunted Oaks Film Festival
    Pittsburgh, PAtsburgh, PA
    United States
    October 1, 2016
    PA Premiere
    Winner Audience Choice Award, Winner Coolest Creature, Winner Best Writing, Runner-Up Best Film
  • New York City Horror Film Festival
    New York, New York
    United States
    November 11, 2016
    New York Premiere
  • Idaho Horror Film Fest
    Boise, Idaho
    United States
    October 13, 2016
    Idaho Premiere
  • Atlanta Horror Film Festival
    Atlanta, GA
    United States
    October 13, 2016
    Southern U.S. Premiere
  • Nightmares Film Festival
    Columbus, OH
    United States
    October 20, 2016
    Ohio Premiere
    Nominee - Best Short Film Screenplay
  • A Night of Horror International Film Festival
    Sydney
    Australia
    November 27, 2016
    Australian Premiere
  • Knoxville Horror Film Fest
    Knoxxville, TN
    United States
    October 21, 2016
    Tennessee Premiere
    Winner - Palm d'Gore (Best Short Film)
  • St. Louis International Film Festival
    St. Louis, MO
    United States
    November 3, 2016
    Missouri Premiere
  • S.F. Indiefest's Another Hole in the Head Film Festival
    San Francisco, CA
    United States
    October 27, 2016
    Bay Area Premiere
    Winner - Best U.S. Short
  • Killer Valley Horror Film Festival
    Ashland, OR
    United States
    November 12, 2016
    Oregon Premiere
    Winner - Best Special Effects
  • Buried Alive Film Festival
    Atlanta, GA
    United States
    November 16, 2016
  • Paris International Fantastic Film Festival
    Paris
    France
    December 6, 2016
    France Premiere
  • Other Worlds Austin
    Austin, TX
    United States
    December 1, 2016
    Texas Premiere
  • Macabre Faire Film Festival
    Mastic, Long Island, NY
    United States
    January 12, 2017
    Long Island Premiere
    Nominee - Best Thriller Short, Nominee - Best SFX, Nominee - Best Soundtrack
  • Directors Circle Festival of Shorts
    Erie, PA
    United States
    November 17, 2016
  • Great Lakes Int’l Shorts Fest
    Erie, PA
    United States
    November 17, 2016
    Winner - Best Horror Film
  • Chicago International REEL Shorts Film Festival
    Chicago, IL
    United States
    December 2, 2016
    Illinois Premiere
  • Darkness Reigns Film Festival
    New Orleans, LA
    United States
    January 21, 2017
    Louisiana Premiere
  • Richmond International Film Festival
    Richmond, VA
    United States
    March 2, 2017
    Virginia Premiere
  • Nevermore Film Festival
    Durham, NC
    United States
    February 24, 2017
    North Carolina Premiere
    Winner - Audience Choice; Best U.S. Short
  • Berlin Independent Film Festival
    Berlin
    Germany
    February 15, 2017
    German Premiere
  • GeekFest

    United States
    February 18, 2017
  • Boston Science Fiction Film Festival
    Boston, MA
    United States
    February 13, 2017
    Boston Premiere
    Winner - Best Creature FX
  • Long Beach ComicCon
    Long Beach, CA
    United States
    February 18, 2017
    Long Beach Premiere
  • Cinequest
    San Jose, CA
    United States
    March 3, 2017
    San Jose Premiere
  • Richmond international Film Festival
    Richmond, VA
    United States
    March 4, 2017
    Richmond Premiere
  • HorrorHound Weekend Film Festival
    Cincinatti, OH
    United States
    March 18, 2017
    Nominee - Best Short Film
  • Boston Underground Film Festival
    Boston, MA
    United States
    March 24, 2017
    Winner - Best New England Film
  • Y'a un Os dans le Potage
    Bourg-en-Bresse, France
    France
    March 30, 2017
    Bourg-en-Bresse Premiere
  • Phoenix International Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival
    Phoenix, AZ
    United States
    April 7, 2017
  • Flatpack Film Festival
    Birmingham, UK
    United Kingdom
    April 9, 2017
    Birmingham Premiere
  • Dead By Dawn
    Edinburgh, Scotland
    United Kingdom
    April 20, 2017
    Scotland Premiere
  • Nashville Film Festival
    Nashville, TN
    United States
    April 20, 2017
    Nashville Premiere
  • Bloody Weekend, Audincourt Fantastic Film Festival
    Audincourt, France
    France
    May 26, 2017
  • Motor City Nightmares
    Detroit, MI
    United States
    April 28, 2017
    Michigan Premiere
  • Seattle International Film Festival
    Seattle, WA
    United States
    May 19, 2017
    Washington Premiere
  • International Horror Hotel
    Cleveland, OH
    United States
    June 15, 2017
    Cleveland Premiere
    Runner-Up - Best Horror Comedy Short
  • Calgary Horror Con
    Calgary
    Canada
    June 10, 2017
    Calgary Premiere
  • Cape Fear Independent Film Festival
    Wilmington, NC
    United States
    June 16, 2017
    Wilmington Premiere
Director Biography - Nick Spooner

Nick Spooner directs commercials, short films and other things, which occasionally win awards. Born in Boston and raised all around New England, he was President of the Harvard Lampoon, wrote, produced and directed at Comedy Central, and once fronted a hardcore band in New York City. He currently lives in The American Northeast with his wife and two kids.

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Director Statement

Brooke Smith, Scream Queen

We were extremely fortunate that the wildly talented Brooke Smith agreed to play the lead role of Diane in our film. From 'putting the lotion in the basket' in "The Silence of The Lambs" to starring in popular series such as Grey's Anatomy and Ray Donovan, A&E just announced that Brooke will soon star in the upcoming season of A&E's Bates Motel with Rihanna, officially making her a current-day "Scream Queen". We are honored to have worked alongside her in making The Call of Charlie such a fun and original project. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did making it.