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Title: The Call (2013)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Halle Berry | ... | ||
| Abigail Breslin | ... | ||
| Morris Chestnut | ... | ||
| Michael Eklund | ... | ||
| David Otunga | ... | ||
| Michael Imperioli | ... | ||
| Justina Machado | ... | ||
| José Zúñiga | ... | ||
| Roma Maffia | ... | ||
| Evie Thompson | ... |
Leah Templeton
(as Evie Louise Thompson)
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| Denise Dowse | ... |
Flora
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| Ella Rae Peck | ... |
Autumn
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| Jenna Lamia | ... |
Brooke
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| Ross Gallo | ... |
Josh
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| Tara Platt | ... |
Female Trainee
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Jordan Turner (Halle Berry) is an experienced 911 operator but when she makes an error in judgment and a call ends badly, Jordan is rattled and unsure if she can continue. But then teenager Casey Welson (Abigail Breslin) is abducted in the back of a man's car and calls 911. And Jordan is the one called upon to use all of her experience, insights and quick thinking to help Casey escape, and not just to save Casey, but to make sure the man is brought to justice. Written by napierslogs
There is the main character who is good but not perfect, and there is the one mistake she makes that almost destroys her. And there is her nemesis, engaging her at a challenge greater than any she has had to confront before.
The Call models just about all the techniques of good storytelling. Character, plot, action, and suspense—all the ingredients of a good thriller are there, and blended well. Halle Berry gives a superb performance heading a cast that is capable overall. We can sense and feel the story as it happens.
The bad guy is always a step ahead. Except when he is two steps ahead. Except when the protagonist undertakes a bold new move and, if it works…. A big "if," that is.
On a couple of occasions, this movie gives stinging reminders of human fallibility, specifically lapses of good judgment that can cause a situation to deteriorate. We want to beckon the characters in front of us to do certain things, and fast. But they are either too daring or too guileless to anticipate the curveballs that are about to hit them.
Frustrating as that may be, the ending holds a twist gratifying enough to compensate for those frustrations. That even glosses over a certain lack of dénouement—perhaps the one part of storytelling this movie could have used more of. Or was it part of the plan to leave a few things to our imagination?