Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gripping thriller has tons of violence directed at a teen.
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The Call
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 12 parent reviews
Parents say this film is a tense thriller featuring mature themes, graphic violence, and unsuitable content for younger viewers, making it more appropriate for older teens and adults. Although some praise Halle Berry's performance and its suspenseful nature, many reviews express concern over its disturbing elements and a lackluster ending.
- suspenseful thriller
- mature themes
- graphic violence
- inappropriate for kids
- mixed reviews
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 28 kid reviews
What's the Story?
Jordan (Halle Berry) is a very good 911 operator ... until she gets a call from a teen girl reporting a prowler. Jordan makes a small error of judgment, and the girl ends up killed. Six months later, a shaken Jordan is working away from the phones, teaching trainees the ropes. But when a call from a frantic kidnapped girl, Casey (Abigail Breslin), comes in, Jordan overcomes her fear and takes over. She uses all her skills and training to try to find Casey -- who's locked in the trunk of a car -- before it's too late. But, to Jordan's horror, she eventually realizes that the kidnapper is the same man who killed the other girl.
Is It Any Good?
THE CALL is a high-concept thriller that certainly has the potential to self-destruct, especially when it dives into totally implausible territory during its final stretch. But genre specialist Brad Anderson (Session 9, The Machinist, Transsiberian) gives it a taut, low-budget energy that keeps it pulsing throughout its entire running time. It helps that both Berry and Breslin give tense, emotionally raw performances, inviting viewers to really care about their characters.
Anderson occasionally delves into moments of pure horror, complete with odd angles and off-kilter rhythms. Specifically, the serial killer elements seem fairly strong for a thriller of this type, but they don't ruin the overall effect. Indeed, the movie is so effectively constructed that it recalls enormous hits of decades past like Fatal Attraction and The Silence of the Lambs. If only Berry's character had seen these movies, she could have sharpened up the ending a bit.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The Call's intense violence. How did it affect you? Do you think the story could have been told with milder violence?
Why do you think there are so many movies (and other types of media) about serial killers? Why are we so fascinated by them?
Do you feel that the teen characters were sexualized in any way? If so, do you feel this was acceptable or unacceptable? Why?
What's the movie's take on revenge? Do you think it's realistic? Justifiable?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 15, 2013
- On DVD or streaming : June 25, 2013
- Cast : Abigail Breslin , Halle Berry , Morris Chestnut
- Director : Brad Anderson
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : TriStar Pictures
- Genre : Thriller
- Run time : 94 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence, disturbing content and some language
- Award : NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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