Review by Bob Ignizio
Jordan Turner (Halle Berry) is a 911
operator who makes a careless mistake on the job that results in a
teenage girl being kidnapped and murdered by a serial killer (Michael
Eklund) in the suspense-thriller THE CALL. 6 months later
Jordan finds herself on a call with Casey (Abigail Breslin), a
teenage girl who awakens after being drugged by an assailant to find
herself in the trunk of a car. Three guesses who her abductor is, and
the first two don't count. Now it's a race against time to find Casey
before she becomes the killer's latest victim, and Jordan is taking
it personally.
It all feels very recycled and by the
numbers, a bland but competently
made 'B' thriller with minimally fleshed out characters. Even the
third rate Buffalo Bill knock-off we're given as a villain fails to
bring any chills or excitement, or even campy laughs, to the
proceedings. Movies like this can sometimes rise above their so-so
scripts with the help of strong, stylish direction, and given past
efforts like SESSION 9
and THE MACHINIST
Brad Anderson is just that. His direction here, however, is
indifferent, putting no real visual stamp on the film nor imbuing the
action scenes with much excitement. It's pure work for hire.
About
the only thing of any real interest is how, intentional or not, we're
reminded of the way the media covers the disappearance of photogenic
types like Natalie Holloway while ignoring countless other abductions
and murders. The general attitude seems to be that the life of one
pretty young (usually white) girl is of greater importance compared
to the lives of some others. And so in the film, Jordan barely
registers any remorse when her advice to Casey leads to the deaths of
a couple minor characters, nor are these deaths staged in such a way
as to make the audience care – they simply serve to increase or
feelings of tension and concern for Casey. Sorry, guys, but you
weren't nearly as cute as Abigail Breslin.
While
it's not horrible, THE CALL
isn't a movie that should be opening on hundreds of theater screens
nationwide; it should be premiering on the Netflix instant queue
alongside other recent misfires with name stars like Jessica Alba's
THE TALL MAN. There,
lowered expectations and a few adult beverages could make one's
viewing experience a little more enjoyable. Those who pay 10 bucks to
see this while stone cold sober may be somewhat less forgiving. 2 out
of 4 stars.
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