Looking at some of the most popular psychological thrillers, such as The Silence of the Lambs, it’s clear how the genre is evolving. In recent years, more modern themes and a mix of other genres, like sci-fi, horror, and even technology, have been woven into the stories. The Call is a typical example of this evolution with its mind-bending plot twists and sci-fi touch.
As is often the case with movies based on the concept of time, viewers are left questioning everything they thought they knew. In The Call, however, time is more than just a backdrop — it becomes a driving force that shapes the film’s tension. Set across two timelines connected by a mysterious phone, the film explores just how far someone is willing to go to change their fate.
‘The Call’ Is an Interesting Addition to The Genre
Image Credit: Netflix
Imagine a world where an old phone is a bridge between two timelines and a single piece of information from the past or future could completely change someone’s fate. The Call follows Kim Seo-yeon, who discovers she can communicate with a woman named Oh Young-sook, who is living in her house 20 years in the past, through an old cordless phone. As the two bond over their troubled relationships with their mothers, their connection across time takes a dark and dangerous turn. In trying to rewrite their fates, their actions across each other’s timelines trigger a ripple effect of choices and consequences that impact both their lives.
Based on the 2011 horror film The Caller, the film features an impressive cast. Seo-yeon, played by Park Shin-hye, and Young-sook, portrayed by Jeon Jong-seo, deliver laudable performances with Jeon Jong-seo even winning several Best Actress awards. In a genre that is often filled with predictable twists, The Call is certainly an interesting addition. The sci-fi element brings a fresh angle, elevating the film’s overall thrill.
The Real-Time Alterations Make ‘The Call’ So Mind-Bending
The Call is a rollercoaster of mind-bending moments and every twist has you questioning what is truly real. The film takes the concept of time manipulation to a whole new level, showing how a single choice from the past can drastically affect the present. What makes The Call so mind bending is the fact that most actions from either Seo-yeon or Young-sook’s timeline caused real-time alterations. For example, the moment when Young-sook, acting on the information Seo-yeon shares about her father’s death, sneaks out to stop the fire that claimed his life. She succeeds, and Seo-yeon’s reality changes dramatically and her parents are alive and well.
It’s intriguing how what starts as a simple phone call turns into a game of cat and mouse with time itself. The ripple effects from their actions become clearer as the film progresses, with small changes in the past having massive, sometimes devastating, impacts on the present. Furthermore, the film’s tension doesn’t just come from its creepy concept of time manipulation but also from its exploration of human desperation and regret. It shows just how far people can go when they are desperate even if it means hurting their past or future self.
How Does ‘The Call’ Hold Up Against The Classics?
Image Credit: Netflix
Fans of psychological thrillers have probably seen the classics like Psycho or Seven, where the tension practically fills the room. The Call may not be in the same league as those films, but it still proves its worth. While classic thrillers often rely on building tension gradually through strong characters and very slow suspense, The Call takes a more modern approach with its time-bending concept and unpredictable plot twists. On top of that, unlike the classics, The Call doesn’t feature the biggest names but the actors still deliver powerful performances.
However, probably the most distinguishing element about The Call is its blend of the psychological depth, use of time, and science fiction. The emotional core of the film—two women trying to rewrite their fates—adds an humanizes the narrative even further. It might not have the same iconic status as some of its predecessors, but The Call offers a perfect blend of suspense and sci-fi that keeps viewers guessing.
For thrilling time-bending schenanigans, The Call is available for streaming on Netflix.
