The Call (2013)

When it's over, State Your Emergency would have been a better title. Halle Berry is Jordan, a 911 operator who is determined to save a young woman (Abigail Breslin) from her kidnapper (Michael Eklund). The filmmakers took great care to show the world of 911 operators and the daily grind and pressure the job puts on them. There was nothing hidden in this film, making it predictable from beginning to end. The film was not concerned with surprising you, but rather keeping you hinged to the story. It was not a story about solving a case or hunting down a serial killer, but instead, a story about the pursuit of a lead, provided by Breslin's character, Casey, who was trapped in the trunk of the kidnapper's vehicle. There was plenty of suspense, keeping me at the edge of my seat. The state of urgency in each scene kept the story racing, as the viewer was pulled into the search for Casey. Berry and Breslin were believable as they took their characters through the emotions of fear, anger, and courage. Eklund's character, Michael, started out as just your usual stereotypical serial killer, but evolved into a sick calculating madman, that took some skilled acting to convince the viewer. The trio were the driving forces that kept the tension escalating, but it was the ending that made The Call disconnect. The abrupt ending was all wrong. I enjoyed the first 85 minutes, but it lost me in the end. Note: the film was 94 minutes long. Certainly, I would recommend a viewing, because the suspense will be worth it, just don't expect the ending you want. 

My rating: 3.5 out of 5