Call, The (6/25/2013)

Rated R for violence, disturbing content and some language.

Starring Halle Berry and Abigail Breslin

Directed by Brad Anderson (The Machinist)

Someone call 911…this movie is killing me.

When veteran 911 operator, Jordan (Halle Berry), takes a life-altering call from a teenage girl (Abigail Breslin) who has just been abducted, she realizes that she must confront a killer from her past in order to save the girl’s life.

Calling The Call “dumb” would be an insult to your intelligence. I knew I was in trouble when the opening credits proudly announced that The Call was a “WWE Production.” Uh-oh. Granted, my expectations weren’t high, but Brad Anderson is a decent director – remember The Machinist? On the other hand, the WWE isn’t exactly known for gripping storylines and well-developed characters. There is no danger of that changing with this film.

Things don’t start out too badly. In fact, the beginning is actually pretty good. I’ve never seen the inside of a 911 call center, but I can believe it’s something similar to what’s shown in The Call. We’re introduced to operator Jordan Turner, who appears to be one of the best at what she does. Things take a turn for the worse for Jordan and she takes herself off the active roster and becomes a 911 instructor – until she’s pressed back into emergency duty.

The bulk of the movie follows a call from another kidnap victim who is trapped in the trunk of her abductor’s car. The Call’s intention is to build suspense during these sequences but it misses the mark in generating tension. Mostly it’s just Casey whimpering and whining and the police showing a shocking lack of ability. Most of it doesn’t really work.

But then The Call really goes off the rails as it approaches the climax. Once the call with Casey is terminated at a critical juncture, Jordan decides to take matters into her own hands. So, distrusting the police department’s ability to get the job done, she goes on a one-woman hunt for the missing girl and, incredibly, finds her! Come on!!

Wait, it gets better, once she finds the psycho’s lair, does she call for backup? No – she don’t need no stinkin’ backup! She also commits all the classic idiot-blunders of these types of characters, including the biggest one of all: turning her back on a supposed “downed” killer. Now come on, we all know that these guys always get up.

And Abigail Breslin’s whining and being generally unconvincing, quickly got on my nerves.

I got a drink…now I need a “coaster.” Glad The Call came out last week.

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
This movie is a rated R that I would definitely keep kids away from. There is no sex or nudity shown, but there are a few inappropriate conversations.

There are 3 F-words and some other profanity. There are several disturbing scenes including a teen girl being kidnapped.

CONVERSATION STARTER

1. When Casey was in trouble who did she call?


2. Besides 911 who do we call or text when we’re in trouble or need help?


3. Read Psalm 18:1-19
   
   I love you, LORD, my strength.
   2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
   my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
   my shield[b] and the horn[c] of my salvation, my stronghold.
   3 I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
   and I have been saved from my enemies.
   4 The cords of death entangled me;
   the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
   5 The cords of the grave coiled around me;
   the snares of death confronted me.
   6 In my distress I called to the LORD;
   I cried to my God for help.
   From his temple he heard my voice;
   my cry came before him, into his ears.
   7 The earth trembled and quaked,
   and the foundations of the mountains shook;
   they trembled because he was angry.
   8 Smoke rose from his nostrils;
   consuming fire came from his mouth,
   burning coals blazed out of it.
   9 He parted the heavens and came down;
   dark clouds were under his feet.
   10 He mounted the cherubim and flew;
   he soared on the wings of the wind.
   11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—
   the dark rain clouds of the sky.
   12 Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced,
   with hailstones and bolts of lightning.
   13 The LORD thundered from heaven;
   the voice of the Most High resounded.[d]
   14 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy,
   with great bolts of lightning he routed them.
   15 The valleys of the sea were exposed
   and the foundations of the earth laid bare
   at your rebuke, LORD,
   at the blast of breath from your nostrils.
   16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
   he drew me out of deep waters.
   17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
   from my foes, who were too strong for me.
   18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
   but the LORD was my support.
   19 He brought me out into a spacious place;
   he rescued me because he delighted in me.
   
   
4. What happened when David cried out for help?


5. What can we learn from David?