On the Line

On the Line

Year: 2022

Runtime: 104 min

Language: English

Director: Romuald Boulanger

Thriller

In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, Mel Gibson plays a reckless radio host whose provocative antics have dire consequences when a mysterious caller takes him hostage, threatening to harm his family and destroy the studio unless he plays along with their deadly game.

Warning: spoilers below!

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On the Line (2022) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Read the complete plot breakdown of On the Line (2022), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

**In the bustling atmosphere of Los Angeles, radio shock jock Elvis Cooney (Mel Gibson) leaves his wife and daughter to embark on another midnight shift at KLAT. Right from the start, he shares a lively banter with Dylan (William Moseley), the new intern, although it begins with a prank that sets the tone for the night’s chaos. Teaming up with Mary (Alia Seror-O’Neill), his switchboard operator, Elvis dives into the night, fully unaware of the terrors that await him.

The atmosphere shifts drastically when a caller named Gary threatens Elvis, claiming he has taken Elvis’s family, Olivia and Adria, hostage. As Gary elaborates, he reveals Elvis’s past misdeeds, contributing to the death of a previous operator, Lauren. Tensions escalate when Gary coerces Elvis into a dark confession live on-air, ultimately pushing him towards the building roof with a sinister command to jump. In dire straits, Dylan and fellow worker Steven rush to follow him, only for Elvis to hear gunshots that chill him to the bone, leading him to assume the worst has occurred to his family.

Elvis’s reality begins to shift as he realizes Gary has been orchestrating this malicious game from within the studio. With 40 minutes on the clock, Elvis and Dylan navigate the crumbling remnants of their safety, attempting to outsmart Gary while still searching for Olivia and Adria, who are hidden somewhere in the building. In an unexpected twist, they also encounter Tony (Enrique Arce), an old acquaintance of Elvis—who has found himself on the wrong side of the law—fetching a serious ultimatum from Gary. Progressively building tension sees Elvis confronted with heart-wrenching decisions that shake his moral compass.

As further twists unfold, including a discovery in the control room where the body of Justin lies lifeless, the stakes rise perilously high. Gary has taken Mary and Steven hostage and gives Elvis an ultimatum involving a deadly exchange, trading Dylan’s life for that of his family. In a dramatic climax filled with unexpected turns, alliances are tested, and survival becomes paramount. However, what ultimately appears to be a harrowing examination of life and death culminates in laughter and relief, as the entire episode is revealed to be an elaborate prank designed for Dylan’s surprise birthday celebration.

As Elvis concludes the shocking ordeal, he vows never to return to the radio, only to discover that Dylan, now known as Max, miraculously faked his own death as part of the elaborate setup. This playful conclusion leaves Elvis gleefully aware that any revenge prank he concocts in the future will have to top an unforgettable night full of unexpected twists and trials.**

Last Updated: October 27, 2024 at 16:52

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