Growing up, our parents teach us three golden rules: don’t talk to strangers, always wear your seat belt, and look both ways before crossing the street. The movie The Call goes beyond anything a parent could warn their child about; this movie is every parent and child’s worst nightmare.
The seemingly calm life of California 911 operator, Jordan, played by Halle Berry, is changed forever when she takes a disturbing call of a young girl caught in the midst of a home invasion. Months later, when teaching incoming operators, she takes the tragic call of another young girl named Casey, played by Abigail Breslin, trapped in the trunk of a man’s car. Normally, the operator can track the call using the cell phone’s GPS, but of course, it didn’t work out that way. Unfortunately, Casey was using a pre-paid, untraceable phone, which made Jordan’s already difficult job ten times harder.
Director Brad Anderson got the audience’s hopes up time and time again, but none of Casey’s attempts at escaping were successful, and believe me, there were plenty. For the first hour, it definitely is a nail biter; you’ll find yourself hoping for Casey’s safety and having your fingers crossed that some other car sees her helpless arm sticking out of the spot where the car’s headlights used to be. With every attempt, the movie gets more and more intense. Taking Casey’s call very personally, Jordan travels to where she believes Casey’s kidnapper, played by Michael Eklund, is hiding her; that’s when things take a turn for the worst.
The power duo of Halle Berry and Abigail Breslin really make the movie. Their powerful, believable acting save the movie when it gets a little faulty. The relationship they created onscreen, although unrealistic, definitely adds to the building tension throughout the movie. With a fairly solid story line and great acting, The Call is definitely a scary-movie-gone-horror-film must see. It has plenty of suspense, without all of the gore and blood. It truly plays with your mind and keeps your imagination rolling the entire time.
Run Time: 90 minutes
Rated R for violence, disturbing content, and some language.
