Year: 2013
Runtime: 94 min
Language: Korean
Director: Brad Anderson
Budget: $13M
A veteran 911 dispatcher finds her routine shattered by a frantic call from a kidnapped teenager. As she works to locate the victim, she is forced to confront a disturbing connection to her own past. The unfolding situation becomes a race against time, pitting her wits against a dangerous and calculating killer in a suspenseful quest for rescue.
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A veteran 9-1-1 operator with the Los Angeles Police Department, Jordan Turner receives a harrowing call one fateful night from a terrified teenager, Leah Templeton, who fears for her safety as a man breaks into her home. With a calm demeanor, Jordan advises Leah to hide upstairs, but when the call abruptly disconnects, she instinctively redials, unknowingly sealing Leah’s fate as the ringing phone reveals her location to the intruder. As the call ends, Leah’s words resonate painfully in Jordan’s mind when the intruder chillingly declares, > “It’s already done,” before hanging up. The following day, a news report confirms Jordan’s worst fears: Leah has been murdered. Devastated by her inability to save the girl, Jordan confides in her boyfriend, Officer Paul Phillips, that she can no longer handle direct emergency calls.
Fast forward six months, Jordan has transitioned to training new 9-1-1 operators, yet the trauma of Leah’s death looms over her. Meanwhile, Casey Welson, another unsuspecting teenager, faces a harrowing ordeal. After parting ways with her friend Autumn at a mall parking garage, she is abducted and forced into the trunk of a car. Handy with a disposable phone taken from Autumn, Casey dials 9-1-1, but a rookie operator struggles to manage the situation, prompting Jordan to intervene. Unfortunately, Casey’s use of a disposable phone hinders the authorities from pinpointing her location.
As the kidnapper speeds away, Jordan expertly instructs Casey to knock out a taillight, hoping to signal passing motorists for help. One observant dispatcher sees Casey waving her arm and promptly alerts the police, narrowing down their search efforts. When Casey reveals that there are paint cans in the trunk, Jordan quickly devises a plan for her to pour the paint out of the taillight hole, drawing the attention of an innocent driver, Alan Denado. Tragically, the kidnapper brutally attacks Alan, presuming him dead, and stows him into the trunk alongside Casey.
The police subsequently identify the kidnapper through fingerprint analysis from the abandoned car. In a frantic moment, Alan regains consciousness in the trunk and starts screaming, provoking the kidnapper to lash out violently. At a gas station, Casey, thinking quickly, maneuvers herself to escape out of the trunk and pleads with a gas station attendant for help. However, the kidnapper retaliates by dousing the attendant in gasoline and setting him ablaze.
Upon arrival at his hideout, the kidnapper discovers Casey’s phone, with Jordan still on the line. She warns him that his identity has been uncovered and urges him to surrender without causing further harm. Before Joshua can react, he coldly repeats, > “It’s already done,” a horrifying echo of what happened to Leah, making it clear to Jordan that this is the same man who took Leah’s life.
In the meantime, Officer Phillips, alongside Officer Jake Devans and other law enforcement members, attempts to locate the kidnapper, but find only his wife and children in the house. Discovering photos of the kidnapper with his sick sister, Melinda, they see a disturbing resemblance between Casey and his late sibling. His wife reveals that the house they seek was razed, yet a nearby cottage still stands. When the police check it out, they find nothing and leave, but soon it becomes apparent that the kidnapper has sinister intentions.
In a desperate move, Jordan tracks down the secondary property, uncovering a trove of old photographs revealing Michael’s disturbed history with his sister. Outside, the eerie sounds of an outdoor flagpole echo memories from the final moments of Leah’s call, prompting Jordan to investigate further. Discovering a trap door buried in the ground, Jordan descends into the cellar without notifying the police.
Inside, she masks her presence from an emerging Michael. The cellar stands as a testament to his twisted psyche, filled with items that illustrate his sick obsession with his deceased sister, whom he believed he could relive through victims resembling her. Just as he prepares to harm Casey, Jordan’s determination kicks in, resulting in a fierce confrontation where she frees Casey, and they manage to evade Michael’s clutches.
As Michael recovers from the blow, the girls cunningly tie him to a chair. When he regains consciousness, they deliver a chilling ultimatum about leaving him behind, claiming that he was too dangerous to escape. Jordan chillingly echoes Michael’s own words, replying, > “It’s already done,” before locking him away and enacting vengeance for Leah’s tragic demise.
Last Updated: October 27, 2024 at 22:43
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.
Movies where every second counts in a desperate rescue mission.If you liked the relentless urgency of 'The Call,' you'll find more heart-pounding thrillers in this thread. These movies share a similar structure, focusing on desperate rescue missions and high-stakes situations where every decision matters.
This narrative pattern follows a linear, fast-paced structure where a critical event—like a kidnapping—triggers a desperate, immediate response. The story unfolds in near real-time, with the protagonist overcoming obstacles and using limited resources to achieve a goal before it's too late.
Movies are grouped here based on their shared central premise of an urgent time constraint, a clear and present danger, and a narrative that sustains high tension through a straightforward, goal-oriented plot focused on rescue or prevention.
Thrillers where a new crime forces a reckoning with a personal past.Fans of 'The Call' and its themes of personal guilt and disturbing connections will appreciate this thread. It features other suspenseful movies where heroes must face their own past trauma while battling a dangerous foe.
This emotional journey begins with a protagonist haunted by a past failure or tragedy. A new, similar case forces them back into the fray, creating a powerful personal stake. The narrative unfolds as both an external cat-and-mouse game and an internal psychological battle, often leading to morally complex actions.
These films are connected by a shared focus on a protagonist's psychological arc, where the external thriller plot is deeply intertwined with themes of guilt, revenge, and confronting a disturbing past, resulting in a heavy emotional weight.
Don't stop at just watching — explore The Call in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Call is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of The Call with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape The Call. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Call that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Call: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
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