Since winning her Oscar way back in 2001 beautiful Halle Berry has made her share of turkeys (Catwoman, Perfect Stranger, Gothika, Movie 43, Catwoman, etc.), but The Call is not one of them. The Call is surprisingly realistic, suspenseful and even thrilling. Brad Anderson has taken a standard movie situation (deviant sicko kidnaps girl, police try to catch him) and infused it with smarts to spare and enough shocks to keep fans of thrillers, like myself, pretty happy.
The only letdown comes in the final fifteen minutes, when detailed, realistic, smart police procedure is tossed out the window and 911 police dispatch operator Halle Berry goes after the villain without calling in backup. For that matter, where are the cops when she (not they) discerns his hiding place? They should have stationed at least a couple of officers nearby; it is ludicrous that they are not at least staking out his cottage. And I’m not sure about the conclusion, the fate of the villain. Handling things as she does could, and certainly would, get Berry into big trouble should her actions become known. It may also be an ending that panders to the audience, rather than sustains the impetus and integrity of the story. It’s a tough call.
Even with this sudden lapse into movie fantasy land, the film never loses its panache. Its characters are solidly written and enacted, and the situation has a genuine feel to it, probably because such kidnappings have become sadly routine in our era. The film works because of its attention to detail, starting with characters who act and react in ways that are perfectly understandable. Kudos to writers Richard D’Ovidio and Nicole D’Ovidio, who have taken Jon Bokenkamp’s story and created an intense, exciting thriller. If not for the lapse of common sense at the climax this would have been one of the best movies of the year, so far, anyway. As it is, I think it is well worth watching, if you enjoy this type of entertainment. ☆ ☆ ☆. 25 March 2013.
P.S. Yes, I know I mentioned Catwoman twice. It deserves to be mentioned twice.