Ghosts have gone digital! In an age where even your toaster has Wi-Fi, it’s no surprise that the supernatural has adapted to society’s screen-obsessed world.

Forget eerie notes scrawled on foggy mirrors or ghostly whispers in the dark – welcome to a reality where hauntings happen through your smartphone.

“Haunting Call,” directed by Danny Pang, dives headfirst into this modern twist on horror, crafting a tale where revenge, technology, and the afterlife collide in a chilling blend of thrills and social commentary.

At its core, this Hong Kong horror thriller film asks an unsettling question: what happens when your most personal device becomes a conduit for the otherworldly? The idea is fresh, the premise enticing, and the execution… Well, let’s just say it has its moments.

At the heart of “Haunting Call” is Lily, played by the charismatic Min-chen. A popular YouTuber nursing a broken heart after her boyfriend’s betrayal, Lily’s world takes a dark turn when she stumbles upon Xiaoya’s haunted smartphone. Xiaoya is a bullied high school student who tragically takes her own life, and returns to haunt her bullies.

Min-chen’s portrayal of Lily is undoubtedly the film’s strongest element. Her performance is nuanced, capturing a mix of vulnerability, wit, and resilience.

Lily’s journey – from a reluctant participant in Xiaoya’s quest for revenge to an active ally – is believable and emotionally engaging.

Min-chen effortlessly carries the film, bringing humour and heart to a story that might otherwise have felt overly grim. Her ability to balance the supernatural horror with genuine human emotion keeps the audience invested.

When it comes to scares, “Haunting Call” doesn’t hold back. The ghostly sequences – especially those involving Xiaoya’s messages, unsettling images, and chilling phone calls – are some of the movie’s most effective moments. The tension builds gradually, and the jump scares, while not groundbreaking, are executed with precision.

Using the smartphone as a medium for supernatural activity is a clever touch, playing on society’s collective dependence on these devices.

The haunted phone feels both intimate and invasive, heightening the fear factor as the boundaries between the living and the dead blur. It’s a creative concept that taps into modern anxieties and lends the film a unique edge.

Despite the innovative concept, the film suffers from inconsistent visual quality, likely due to the use of different cameras for various scenes. While some shots are beautifully framed and immersive, others appear amateurish, as though they were captured with a lesser camera. This unevenness creates a visually jarring experience, pulling the viewer out of the story and detracting from the overall atmosphere.

The supporting cast also struggles to keep up. While Min-Chen shines, many of the side characters, particularly Xiaoya’s bullies, deliver performances that range from wooden to exaggerated. This lack of nuance weakens the emotional impact of the story, making it harder for viewers to connect with Xiaoya’s plight.

Adding to this, the flashback scenes use amateurish effects like sudden zoom-ins and black-and-white cuts. Instead of evoking sympathy or dread, these choices feel like something out of a beginner’s film project.

While “Haunting Call” touches on important themes like bullying and social alienation, the story itself treads familiar ground. The “vengeful ghost seeking justice” trope has been done to death in horror films, and despite the smartphone angle, the narrative doesn’t offer much in the way of innovation.

“Haunting Call” is a film with a compelling premise and some genuinely chilling moments, but it doesn’t quite live up to its potential.

That said, fans of supernatural thrillers might find it worth a watch, especially if they’re curious about how ghosts might haunt the digital age. Just be sure to silence your phone before the lights go out. You never know who – or what – might be calling.

As of press time, ‘Haunting Call’ is screening in cinemas nationwide.