Ever since
When a Stranger Calls (1979), we've seen several films build tension using the telephone. That cult classic was firmly in the horror genre. It probably inspired the opening scene of Wes Craven's
Scream (1996). Yet, those films limited that telephone tension to their opening scenes. It's only recently that films have made their entire runtime be someone on the phone. The one most people would probably point out is Steven Knight's
Locke (2014), which involved a man talking on his car phone for the whole film. However, the title that draws the closest comparison to this film is
The Guilty (2018), the Danish selection about an emergency call operator who has to stay on the line with a woman in danger of being killed.
The Danish emergency call operator was a guy working at what would be a 911 dispatch center. This film also focuses on an emergency call operator but not for a 911 dispatch center. Instead, he works at what could be considered the equivalent to The Trevor Project, a phone number that provides trained counselors who can do crisis intervention and suicide prevention, specifically for LGBTQ people. Like
The Guilty, the operator has to stay on the line when there's someone in danger of being killed. Like
When a Stranger Calls, the danger comes from the caller himself.
Christian Gabriel (
Where the Bears Are and
Magic City) stars as Danny, a young gay man who works in the tech industry. His life takes a turn when his boyfriend of two months turns out to be something he didn't expect. Now, he's calling with the idea that he's going to kill himself and possibly others before he does. We don't see Danny at first, we only hear his voice, and, at first, his voice is comparable to a voice from a horror flick. Danny's voice is cool, calm and collected. It's monotone and steady, clearly intentional in everything he says. When he states he's going to kill, there's no equivocation or ambiguity. There are no inflections, which makes his voice a tad scary.
Unlike
The Guilty or even
Locke, this film incorporates flashbacks. Yes, the main character is on the phone for the whole time, but his phone conversation is interrupted with scenes that show us what happened to lead Danny to the point of wanting to commit murder and then suicide. Much like Danny's voice, writer-director Mark Schwab's camerawork and editing are also quite cool, calm and steady. There aren't any camera movements or much of anything to distract from the detached and clinical telling of this narrative.
YouTube star,
Pano Tsaklas co-stars as Kyle, another young gay man who works in the tech industry. He's the aforementioned boyfriend of Danny who hides some secrets and turns out to be not what Danny expected. Kyle is enigmatic and he's especially so about his job. The question is why and what is he hiding. Tsaklas embraces the sly charm of this character rather effectively. He also handles the guilt later, regarding his involvement in what will be Danny's reason for calling the hotline. He's a honey trap who certainly feels bad about being one.
Aside from the mystery behind Danny's reason for calling the hotline and the sexy intrigue that's established and maintained from beginning to end, there's also an undercurrent of themes about success and happiness. Danny isn't happy about his job and his apartment. His living space is small and cheap. He's also not making enough at work to achieve anything better. When he meets Kyle, he's impressed that Kyle has a bigger and fancier apartment. Kyle's work is also affording him so much more money. Danny questions what he has to do to have the kind of success and thus happiness that Kyle seemingly has. It's implied that in order to achieve that success, Danny has to become a bit, if not totally ruthless or he has to attach himself to those who are ruthless.
Corey Jackson (
Remember Me and
Everyday Black Man) stars as Simon, the emergency call operator and trained counselor who talks to Danny. We essentially begin and end with Simon in his office. He becomes increasingly agitated at the thought that Danny might do others or himself harm, but he has to remain level-headed. Aside from his boredom before taking Danny's call, we don't learn that much about Simon as a person. He's basically just the audience proxy, as we're led through Danny's story. He's like the titular character in
The Chadwick Journals (2011). The ending though will have you guessing, as it does Simon, as to what was real and what wasn't.
If you liked this film, other related films to check out include
King Cobra (2016) and
Hot Guys With Guns (2014).
Not Rated but contains nudity, sexual situations and a bloody image.
Running Time: 1 hr. and 32 mins.
Available on Dekkoo and Amazon Prime.
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