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(1972) ***

Divorcee Helen Connelly and her daughter Peggy live in a small farming community in Vermont. Fifteen years earlier her young nephew Michael died in a tragic accident. She remains close to Michael’s brother Craig (Michael Douglas – I know, confusing, right?) who lives nearby. One evening when Craig is visiting them she receives a spooky phone call from a young boy,

“Auntie-my-Helen, I missed the school bus. It's Michael. Please come and get me."

Although this frightens her because only Michael called her ‘Auntie-my-Helen’ she keeps it to herself and tells the others that it was only a crank call. Soon, however, she begins to receive more phone calls from the young boy who appears increasingly frantic until one day he calls and asks, “Am I dead?”

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Hysterical Helen confides in Craig who emphatically reminds her that Michael is dead and could not possibly be calling her. He begins to believe her, however, when he is present during one of the phone calls. When people in the small community begin dying grisly deaths Helen and Craig try to unravel the mystery of the chilling calls.

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I hate ringing phones in movies but I hate ringing phones in movies even more when there’s the voice of a dead person on the other end (thanks a lot, Twilight Zone). ‘When Michael Calls’ is one of the better made-for-television films I’ve seen. I dare you to watch it and not feel a chill run down your spine when you hear the little kid’s voice pleading for answers. Personally after the second time he called I would take the phone off the hook forever. This is a taught, atmospheric film, which loses some steam due to its predictable ending but delivers enough chills to warrant watching. Check it out on You Tube.