Movie Review: The Call
What We Liked
What We Didn't Like
The Call is simply, almost a call to greatness. Halle Berry is perfect for her role as an experienced 911 operator. This thriller/suspense is just that, thrilling and loaded with suspense. I had mediocre expectations for this film but was nicely surprised by its ability to have the viewer experience a plethora of emotions. I personally welled up twice, and jumped out of my skin with the other viewers at all the appropriate times.
The story begins in the “hive,” the control center for all of the 911 incoming calls. It is given this name simply because of all the chaos within that truly does immolate a hive. Jordan Turner (Halle Berry) is a veteran operator, which seemingly always keeps focused during an emergency, up until now. She is slightly distracted when taking a particular call after having just spent time with her love interest, Officer Paul Phillips (Morris Chestnut). The call Jordan has received is an intense one that involves a young woman begging for help after having spotted a predator trying to break into her home. Jordan tries to keep her calm, direct her on where to hide and keeps her on the line as the intruder searches for her, almost allowing a brilliant escape for the terrorized girl. But Jordan makes a huge mistake, and it ends up costing the girl her life. This changes Jordan, and places her into a state-of-mind that makes her unable to handle the stress of being an emergency operator. She is now moved into a training position for incoming operators. But this single experience has changed her; she cannot seem to forget the last words of the man she spoke to on the phone. She told him to “Do not hurt that little girl.” He said, “It’s already done!”
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On a routine tour of the hive with perspective new operator candidates, Jordan has to take over an overwhelmed new operator dealing with yet another abduction of a young girl. The terrorized girl, Casey Welson as played by Abigail Breslin will completely tug at your heart-strings. The intensity of the situation plays true to form in presenting everything you might expect from such a horrifying experience. The abductor, Michael Foster (Michael Eklund) is completely perfect as a deranged psychopath.
Halle Berry in “The Call.” © 2013 – Sony Pictures.
As a viewer you will gain an appreciation for the incredible focus an operator has to undergo in remaining calm and directing the caller as to the strategically best way to handle any given situation. There is even a surprise visit in this film from Michael Imperioli from The Sopranos as an unsuspecting innocent bystander that tries to save the abducted Casey. All and all, The Call is a winner; with a surprise twist ending that will be sure to please.
Betsy Cizek
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