Review of The Call (2013) by Melissa P — 23 Feb 2016

The Call ? Will you pick it up?

There?s the scary movies with monsters; or unrealistic huge spiders and various strange creatures, where it seems the main goal is to eat their helpless victims. Scary, yes. But something that?s really pragmatic? Eh, not necessarily. What about the movies about abduction, something that happens in real life, a realistic tragedy? These are the real kind of ?scary? movies that either keep you on the edge of your seat or huddled under your blankets to shield your eyes from the horror. A movie that could make both those things occur is the 2013 Sony Pictures film, The Call starring Halle Berry in the main role. Although it?d be hard to say it?s a ?must-see? for everyone, it could definitely be categorized as a solid thriller for a modern time. The story is both gut wrenching and frightening, fairly twisted, but very entertaining.

Berry plays the veteran Los Angeles Police operator Jordan Turner, who deals with harmless calls of a bat getting stuck in a house or someone who doesn?t know how to work an oven; to witnesses of traffic accidents or a conversation with the lonely drunk person who can?t find their way home. However, 911 is still an emergency number- and some are more crucial emergencies than others. Turner receives a call from a girl who is home alone one night and hears a man break into her house. It?s the most terrifying call Turner has ever experienced, but she handles it with great care and works to keep the girl safe. However, Turner falls short and the young girl is abducted by the man and her dead body is found a few days later in a remote location in California. Horrified by this experience and putting the blame on herself, Turner steps back from her position on the front line and trains new operators instead.

About half a year later while on the job, Turner finds herself thrown back in the chair to relive another paralyzing experience with an abductee. Turner develops a strong bond with the girl, Casey Welson; played by young actress Abigail Breslin. This is when audiences will be sure to be tuning in. There is a constant wonder of what deranged act the abductor will commit next. Director Brad Anderson and writer Jon Bokenkamp do a fine job on the sequence of events in the film- with a balance between high action scenes and others filled with low-key suspense. Both these types of scenes give Berry the chance to showcase her talents. There is a progression of her character, as she works through the case over a headset to take a nervous wreck of a woman and turn her into ?an operator gone detective?.

There?s no question that Halle Berry is a certified badass. You can?t help but root for her when you see her on screen, especially in this movie. Berry impressively and realistically portrays Turner; and she shows how powerful a person can be with a good kick of adrenaline in them. Even though she plays a 911 operator, Berry doesn?t over or under-do her attempt of transforming her character into an extremely tough (and especially daring woman in the film?s conclusion); who will do anything in her power to keep Casey alive.

This film is very fast paced with typical ?scary? movie patterns but still carries plenty of surprises. The fact that the crime of the movie is centered on a daunting abduction and possible murder makes this thriller a truly graphic tale. The film does its rightful duty to make viewers jump from all the twists and turns; and for the real, brave movie enthusiasts, it makes one want to hop in beside Turner to get rid of the lunatic criminal once and for all. It?s all up to the viewer though, if they?re in for a crazy ride and want to pick up this call.