The Call

Compassionate Jordan Turner (Halle Berry) is a veteran Los Angeles 911 dispatcher who is still recovering from a traumatic incident six months previous, when she was unable to save a teenage girl from the clutches of a psychopathic murderer. Working as an instructor, Jordan shows new recruits around the vast, high-tech emergency call center known as The Hive. Suddenly, while she is explaining the stressful pace and high pressure of the job, Jordan realizes that an inexperienced operator is having trouble with a panicked call from Casey (Abigail Breslin), a teenager who has been abducted from the shopping mall parking garage by a stranger (Michael Eklund) and is now trapped in the trunk of a moving car. Reluctantly, Jordan takes over the headset, introducing herself and reassuring Casey that she will stay with her on the phone until help arrives. That is the setup of a cat-and-mouse game that grows progressively more bizarre as Jordan calmly urges Casey to try to outwit her captor by attracting the attention of passers-by. Before long, Jordan realizes that she's dealing with the same maniacal madman from six months ago. Unevenly scripted as a psychological thriller, The Call is still tautly directed with intense urgency by Brad Anderson, who creates increasing suspense and chilling tension. For the first two-thirds of the narrative, Oscar-winner Berry radiates intelligence, but the story falls apart in the absurd third act, with a final twist that completely strains credulity. An optional purchase. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by stars Halle Berry and Abigail Breslin and the filmmakers, a “making-of” featurette (15 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are two set tours (9 min.), an audition tape of costar Michael Eklund (8 min.), an “Inside the Stunts” featurette (7 min.), deleted and extended scenes (5 min.), a brief alternate ending, and bonus DVD and UltraViolet copies of the film. Bottom line: a solid extras package for an uneven thriller.] (S. Granger)