Sorry, Charlie (2023) Review – A Predictable But Watchable Tubi Original
Sorry, Charlie: Quick Verdict
The Verdict: A functional but formulaic thriller that struggles to elevate its urban-myth premise into a truly terrifying experience. Sorry, Charlie succeeds primarily through a strong lead performance from Kathleen Kenny and a genuinely surprising final act that subverts expectations in a fun, satisfying way. However, the film is hindered by an underdeveloped antagonist whose design and vocal performance lack any real menace, making the central threat feel more like a caricature than a killer. While the cinematography and lighting are surprisingly polished for a Tubi Original, the reliance on repetitive horror clichés and questionable character logic makes the short runtime feel longer than it is. It is a 3 star “horror-lite” that works as a casual late-night watch but offers little to seasoned genre fans looking for genuine scares or innovation.
Details: Director: Colton Tran | Cast: Kathleen Kenny, Connor Hammond, Maria Olsen | Runtime: 1h 15m | Release Date: 6 October 2023
Best for: Casual viewers looking for a quick thriller with a twist and fans of “babysitter-in-peril” style home invasion movies.
Worth noting: The film attempts to capitalise on the “crying baby on the doorstep” urban legend, which has circulated on social media for years despite being largely debunked by law enforcement.
Where to Watch: Tubi (Free)
Rating: 3/5 Stars
(Strong lead acting, surprising twist ending, but let down by a weak villain and clichés.)
Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today we are checking out a Tubi Original in the form of horror, thriller Sorry, Charlie (2023).
On a side-note, if you have arrived here looking for a Sorry, Charlie ending explained article that goes way too in depth about the movie and about the “true story” that Sorry, Charlie is based on, you are in luck. Click right here to check out our Sorry, Charlie Ending Explained article but be warned, it contains spoilers.
Highlights
It’s another Tubi Original
Sorry, Charlie follows the story of a notorious sex pest, and occasional murderer, depending on his mood, called the Gentleman. Luring unsuspecting women out of their houses using a recording of a crying baby, the Gentleman pounces.
Sorry, Charlie follows the story of a notorious sex pest, and occasional murderer, depending on his mood, called the Gentleman.
A woman called Charlie who works on a remote helpline begins hearing crying outside of her house. Believing it may be the notorious killer, she sets about proving everyone who doubts her wrong.
This is another Tubi horror movie that claims to be based on true events. This is, for the most part, bullshit. I go into it in my Sorry, Charlie Ending Explained article so check that out for the real story. Suffice to say, Sorry, Charlie is basically spinning something that is little more than an urban myth into a “true story” for the sake of entertainment.
The problem with that is it’s just not very scary. The concept could work quite well, I suppose, but it is just so unlikely, as proven by the events of the true story the movie is based on. If we ignore, for a minute, that this movie is, basically, an hour of watching someone working from home and focus on the scare factor, nothing here really works.
The crying baby recording falls flat immediately thanks to the silliness of the situation. And the fact that our antagonist is so poorly established and not very threatening only makes things worse. In fact, director Colton Tran does the absolute minimum to establish our killer.
A dull and poorly developed antagonist
There is no build up to show the Gentleman luring out and attacking multiple people. There is no deep dive into whether or not he stalks his victims. And there is no real establishing of this person as being a threat.
“The Gentleman’s design looks like a crappy drawing that would feature as the thumbnail of an awful copypasta video on YouTube. A terrible papier-mâché mask and an awfully cheap looking suit.”
He’s just kind of there. When he begins phoning his victim, in this case our protagonist Charlie, you are left wondering whether or not you should care. I mean, sure, it must have been horrible for Charlie but he isn’t scary to us. This isn’t Ghostface or Norman Bates. Those guys were given screen time and shown to be a threat by actually murdering people. The Gentleman isn’t afforded this treatment so why should we care?
It doesn’t help that the person who voices the Gentleman sounds like Kelsey Grammer voicing Sideshow Bob from the Simpsons. This movie had me cracking up repeatedly thanks to this alone. His attempts to unsettle Charlie are laughable and poorly written and when we see him in person it gets even worse.
The Gentleman’s design looks like a crappy drawing that would feature as the thumbnail of an awful copypasta video on YouTube. A terrible papier-mâché mask and an awfully cheap looking suit and top hat, awful. Whoever is behind the mask seems to be very slightly built, as well. Further impacting how imposing and frightening he feels. I’m 6 foot and a bit and would tower this dude, he’s just not that scary. Throw in some general bumbling and he becomes, almost, a joke.
Rough with the smooth
With all of that being said, the movie does look fairly nice in parts. It’s well filmed and eschews the oh-so-common Tubi 16:9 format which I appreciate. Some of the lighting is good and people may appreciate some of the tension. The claustrophobic social setting also works okay. But the movie does feel very similar to countless other babysitter stalker horror movies.
Kathleen Kenny is strong in the lead role. Charlie is a legitimately likable protagonist who is easy to root for. The ending of the movie is a big surprise. Taking what the viewer may expect to happen and turning it on its head in a legitimately fun final 15 minutes that will provoke a few smiles and maybe a few fist pumps.
But to get there is something of a chore. The movie goes over countless horror clichés and repeats itself over and over again. I can’t count how many times Charlie left the house to check something outside, purely to build some tension. For someone who has been through a harrowing experience, she sure doesn’t learn fast. Without spoiling anything, there is one scene involving the killer and the protagonist that is pure silliness for how it plays out. It reminded me of a cat that can’t decide whether it wants to be in or out.
“Kathleen Kenny is strong in the lead role and Charlie is a legitimately likable protagonist who is easy to root for. The ending of the movie is a big surprise.”
There is tons of foreshadowing for a movie that features a big twist, as well. A lot of what happens doesn’t make sense. There is a lot of wasted time spent engaging in inconsequential rhetoric and pointless dialogue. I just found it all a bit repetitive and a bit difficult to stay engaged with. At least the running time is short, though, at only 75 minutes.
This movie would have been dramatically improved simply by spending a bit more time building up our antagonist. Have him kill a few people on screen. Make him look scary. Redesign him entirely from head to toe and completely rewrite his motivations. Hire a different voice actor. Make the person wearing the suit look more intimidating… You know what, never mind.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
The Good
- The Twist: The final fifteen minutes provide a refreshing change of direction that rewards the viewer for sticking through the slower sections.
- Lead Performance: Kathleen Kenny makes Charlie a relatable and sympathetic character, grounding the film’s sillier moments with believable emotion.
- Production Values: For a low-budget original, the film is well-shot with decent lighting and effective use of its single-location setting.
The Bad
- The Villain: “The Gentleman” is poorly established and visually unappealing, failing to provide the level of threat necessary for a home invasion thriller.
- Horror Clichés: The film relies on frustrating character logic, such as the protagonist repeatedly exiting the safety of her home to investigate noises.
- Dialogue: Much of the script feels repetitive and padded with inconsequential chatter that does little to advance the plot or character depth.
The Ugly: The “Gentleman’s” voice. The vocal performance is so unintentionally comical that it completely strips the antagonist of any remaining scariness during his phone interactions.
Should You Watch Sorry, Charlie?
If you are in the mood for a quick, uncomplicated thriller and don’t mind wading through some familiar tropes, then yes. It is a 3 star film that benefits from a strong ending and a capable lead. However, if you are looking for a genuinely terrifying horror experience with a formidable killer, you will likely find this one lacking. It’s a solid enough choice for a free stream, but far from a new classic.
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