The Night Listener (DVD)

A horror movie with no blood and no murders? Not even any bodily harm done? OK, it's stretching things a bit to call The Night Listener a horror as it belongs more on the mystery and suspense rack, but this chilling tale of manipulation and mental illness is sure to appeal to the more cerebral fans of our genre.

Robin Williams plays Gabriel Noone (Robin Williams), a soft-spoken, shopworn radio personality who connects via the telephone with one of his late-night listeners — a 14-year-old boy who escaped a life of horrible sexual abuse at the hands of his own parents. His adoptive new mom, Donna (Toni Collette) seems too eager to insert herself into their friendship, raising questions about identity, exploitation, and psychosis.

Sadly overlooked during its summer release (The Night Listener is anything but a popcorn flick), this moody and tension-fraught film is based on fact, but is actually drawn from a novel by Armistead Maupin (with Terry Anderson) of the same name. That pithy, dense volume delved into the shadow-like existence of a writer who mined the misery of his own life as entertainment for the masses, and explored what happened when he encountered a kindred — yet infinitely more dangerous — spirit. The movie does basically the same thing, but to a much leaner, barer, and meaner effect.

A web-like mystery that draws you in and keeps you guessing, yet a patient thriller that never tries to grab you or zing you, The Night Listener is one of those rare creepy little gems you'll be glad you found.

The DVD includes a deleted scene and a standard making-of featurette, but that's about it. A commentary, particularly one with Collette and Williams, would have been more than welcome.

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