On the Line

On the Line

Year: 2022

Runtime: 104 min

Language: English

Director: Romuald Boulanger

Echo Score: 32
Thriller

A provocative radio host, played by Mel Gibson, finds himself in a terrifying situation when a mysterious caller seizes control, demanding he follow their instructions or risk the safety of his family and the broadcasting studio. The caller’s game escalates, forcing the host into a desperate struggle against an unseen enemy in this suspenseful thriller.

On the Line (2022) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at On the Line (2022) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the neon‑lit sprawl of Los Angeles, the night shift at KLAT becomes a pressure cooker of sound and secrets. Elvis Cooney is a larger‑than‑life radio shock‑jock whose on‑air bravado masks a restless need for control. When the city’s endless hum fades into the isolated silence of the studio, Elvis believes the darkness outside is his only audience—until a single, untraceable voice shatters that illusion.

The call is terse, demanding, and terrifying: a stranger claims to hold Elvis’s family hostage, forcing the host to obey a series of cryptic commands or risk losing everything he loves. Suddenly, the familiar buzz of microphones and the rhythm of live broadcasts turn into a ticking clock, each second amplifying the dread that the very walls of the station might be closing in. The stakes are intensely personal, framing the thriller as a high‑wire act where every decision could echo far beyond the airwaves.

Around him, a small crew of coworkers adds layers of tension and camaraderie. Dylan, the eager new intern, looks up to Elvis with a mixture of admiration and unease, while Mary, the seasoned switchboard operator, keeps the lifeline to the outside world humming despite the mounting pressure. Their interactions, laced with dry humor and underlying worry, highlight the contrast between the show’s chaotic energy and the quiet terror that now infiltrates the studio.

The mood is a blend of claustrophobic suspense and electric adrenaline, a cat‑and‑mouse game played out in real time with the city’s nightscape as a distant backdrop. As the unseen adversary manipulates the broadcast, Elvis must navigate a maze of moral choices and instinctual survival, all while the relentless static of the radio becomes a metaphor for the thin line between fame and vulnerability.

Last Updated: August 09, 2025 at 21:08

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

High-stakes hostage thrillers like On the Line

Real-time psychological terror where unseen enemies hold all the cards.Find movies similar to On the Line that feature tense, psychological hostage situations. If you liked the claustrophobic tension and unseen threat in this thriller, you'll appreciate these other stories about characters forced to play a dangerous game to save themselves or their loved ones.

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Narrative Summary

These narratives typically unfold in real-time or over a short period, trapping a protagonist in a confined space—like a phone booth, a room, or a vehicle—with an unseen or distant antagonist who controls the situation through threats and demands. The plot is driven by a ticking clock and escalating psychological pressure.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on confined high-stakes conflict, relentless pacing, and a tense, paranoid mood generated by an unseen enemy manipulating the protagonist from a distance.

Thrillers with a humorous twist like On the Line

Tense, high-stakes plots that are cleverly subverted by a final reveal.Discover movies like On the Line where the story's intense, serious premise is completely upended by a surprising final reveal. These films blend high-tension thriller elements with a playful or humorous twist, offering a unique and memorable viewing experience for fans of clever narrative subversions.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist undergoing a harrowing experience that feels completely genuine, filled with suspense and danger. The climax reveals that the threat was manufactured—an elaborate prank, social experiment, or game—which retroactively shifts the tone from pure terror to a mix of relief and amusement.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared structural bait-and-switch, where a heavy, tense tone is masterfully deconstructed by a final twist, creating a unique emotional journey from anxiety to surprising levity.

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On the Line Summary

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On the Line Summary

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On the Line Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in On the Line

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Characters, Settings & Themes in On the Line

On the Line Ending Explained

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On the Line Ending Explained

More About On the Line

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