The Call is the type of film that had no business being released in theaters and should've gone straight to video. Not only is this an incredibly generic thriller that feels like a Lifetime movie, but it's increasingly stupid script ruins any somewhat decent things the film has going for it.
Halle Berry plays Jordan, a 911 operator who lets her emotions get in the way when a call goes terribly wrong and results in the death of the caller. Not able to handle the guilt, she takes a job as a trainer for future 911 operators. One day while she is in a training session, a call comes up that the present operator can't handle and Jordan steps in and the movie kicks into gear...or at least tries too.
I'll give credit where credit is due, the film has a really simple premise and doesn't waste anytime and moves at a very fast pace. Halle Berry also gives a surprisingly good performance for what material she is giving here. The first half of the movie is also semi intriguing and held my interest up until around the 45 minute mark.
The main problem with The Call is that it becomes increasingly stupid and improbable. The script is already loaded with terrible dialogue and clichés, and this only adds to the film becoming increasingly annoying. The characters are equivalent to the undeveloped teens in a slasher film who make incredibly stupid decisions that no other person in the situation would ever even consider doing. As the film goes on you will think the film can't get any dumber, only for it to shock you within minutes by becoming even more than what previously happened. The rest of the cast here does a really poor job. The worst being Michael Eklund who plays the killer who's performance is way too over-the-top for him to be taken seriously. Although, this is another instance where the script shares a good deal of the blame as the majority of his dialogue is laughable.
It's third act is where The Call completely falls off the rails going from a thriller between 911 dispatchers and the victim to a Halle Berry action movie. As terrible as the script is, it at least was consistent for it's first two acts. Not only does it feel completely out of place, but by the end of the film Halle Berry's character's motivations make no sense logically or morally.
The Call is a generic, stupid, and ultimately forgettable film that can't even carry it's simple premise throughout it's short 94 minute runtime. If it hadn't been for the third act, then it might've been a passable film for T.V viewing. But, it fails even at that. The Call is the type of film that will most likely soon be in the discount DVD bin at your local Best Buy where it should've been in the first place.
Halle Berry plays Jordan, a 911 operator who lets her emotions get in the way when a call goes terribly wrong and results in the death of the caller. Not able to handle the guilt, she takes a job as a trainer for future 911 operators. One day while she is in a training session, a call comes up that the present operator can't handle and Jordan steps in and the movie kicks into gear...or at least tries too.
I'll give credit where credit is due, the film has a really simple premise and doesn't waste anytime and moves at a very fast pace. Halle Berry also gives a surprisingly good performance for what material she is giving here. The first half of the movie is also semi intriguing and held my interest up until around the 45 minute mark.
The main problem with The Call is that it becomes increasingly stupid and improbable. The script is already loaded with terrible dialogue and clichés, and this only adds to the film becoming increasingly annoying. The characters are equivalent to the undeveloped teens in a slasher film who make incredibly stupid decisions that no other person in the situation would ever even consider doing. As the film goes on you will think the film can't get any dumber, only for it to shock you within minutes by becoming even more than what previously happened. The rest of the cast here does a really poor job. The worst being Michael Eklund who plays the killer who's performance is way too over-the-top for him to be taken seriously. Although, this is another instance where the script shares a good deal of the blame as the majority of his dialogue is laughable.
It's third act is where The Call completely falls off the rails going from a thriller between 911 dispatchers and the victim to a Halle Berry action movie. As terrible as the script is, it at least was consistent for it's first two acts. Not only does it feel completely out of place, but by the end of the film Halle Berry's character's motivations make no sense logically or morally.
The Call is a generic, stupid, and ultimately forgettable film that can't even carry it's simple premise throughout it's short 94 minute runtime. If it hadn't been for the third act, then it might've been a passable film for T.V viewing. But, it fails even at that. The Call is the type of film that will most likely soon be in the discount DVD bin at your local Best Buy where it should've been in the first place.