The Calling, the highly anticipated home-invasion thriller from director Mark Wilson, will make its world premiere at the 28th annual Dances With Films festival later this month at the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
Wilson, whose debut feature Wade in the Water won the festival’s coveted Audience Choice Award, returns with a chilling new story that blends genre thrills with psychological depth. That first film was praised by none other than Stephen King, who called it “a little movie with a big heart.” Now, Wilson reunites with much of the original team to deliver something darker, more daring, and undeniably timely.
Starring Danika Golombek (The Cycle) and Grayson Eddey (City on a Hill), The Calling follows Virginia and her younger brother Edward, who find themselves under siege in their remote home by a deranged woman who seems to have stepped straight out of their late mother’s most infamous horror novel—The Calling Witch.
As the night spirals into chaos, the siblings must confront a terrifying truth that challenges their understanding of fiction, reality, and family legacy. Watch the trailer below:
“This film lives in the tradition of The Strangers and Funny Games, but reinvents the formula in ways I won’t spoil,” shares Wilson. “We wanted to honor the classics while crafting something that feels brand new. Dances With Films has always championed bold, original filmmaking—so this premiere is the perfect home for The Calling.”
Written by Chris Retts, the script was a semifinalist for the Academy’s Nicholl Fellowships and helped earn Retts a spot on the Austin Film Festival’s “25 Screenwriters to Watch.” Retts also co-wrote Wade in the Water, further cementing this creative duo’s ability to blend character-driven storytelling with genre subversion.
Cinematographer Thomas Rose returns, collaborating with legendary Panavision lens designer Dan Sasaki to capture the look and feel of Kodak 100T 5247 film stock, used in many iconic thrillers of the late ’70s and early ’80s. With support from Panavision, which provided a full digital camera package through a special grant, the film balances rich nostalgia with modern visual power.
Composer Jacob Boyd also rejoins the team, this time delivering a full orchestral score recorded live to elevate the film’s emotional and psychological tension.
In addition to Golombek and Eddey, the ensemble cast includes:
- Nathalie Söderqvist (The Look-See)
- Marcus DeAnda (Lioness)
- Zachary Cowan (NCIS)
- Greg Lutz (Big Sky)
- Hilary Barraford (Kevin Can F**k Himself), who also serves as executive producer.
Produced by Retts and Wilson for Reflect Entertainment, the film is also produced by Jesse Bontreger (Jurassic World: Dominion) and Alex Swickard (Jules).
This year’s festival runs June 19–29, with The Calling screening on Saturday, June 21st as part of the World Premiere Narrative Features Program.
For tickets, click here.
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