Urban legends often serve as a means to entertain while explaining societal standards and subconscious fears. This premise shrouds the tale of a mysterious stranger who preys on women’s maternal instincts. But instead of a tradational slasher, we discover what happens when a former victim sets her own trap in the psychological thriller Sorry, Charlie.
Charlie (Kathleen Kenny) is a remote helpline volunteer for those in crisis. But she’s dealing with her own ongoing trauma — carrying a baby due any day from a serial rapist known as The Gentleman. His signature trap is using the recorded cries of a baby to lure unsuspecting women from the safty of their homes As Charlie attempts to piece her life back together, she begins to suspect the recent anonymous gifts and phone calls from her tormentor.
While a slasher in theory, Sorry, Charlie spends most of its run time on its heroine’s emotional struggles and residual PTSD. Bright moments come via her continued dialogue with a therapist and a young female caller struggling with an unplanned pregnancy in an evangelical home. On the negative end, Charlie’s bombarded with opportunisitic podcasters looking to relive her abuse and news stories that further her belief in The Gentleman’s continued stalking. While these scenes give ample insight into Charlie’s journey, it creates a slower burn than necessary and leaves only 15 minutes of direct intereaction between the principals.
In true slasher fashion, The Gentleman has a great look and the soothing yet menacing voice of a schemer. His joy is in the mental torment and hunt, making the final act a capitvating cat and mouse battle. Whether you accept his undoing largely hinges on whether the viewer has seen Angelina Jolie’s Taking Lives which has an ending is too similar to not be intentional.
Sorry, Charlie is directed by Colton Tran, written by Luke Genton, and available through August 20 via the Popcorn Frights film festival.
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