One film that’s not quite so thrilling is The Call, which still shows some promising signs before detouring into absurdity. The Call stars Halle Berry as Jordan, a 911 operator distraught from an incident where an error on her end resulted in the kidnapping and murder of a young girl. She’s forced back into action when another girl, Casey (Abigail Breslin), is kidnapped and manages to call 911.

Most of the film takes place in what is more or less real time, with Jordan giving Casey advice on how to identify her location and protect herself. When the call inevitably is disconnected, though, Jordan springs into action to find Casey herself. And yes, this is where the film goes from interesting to laughable. Jordan’s every action once she begins looking for Casey in person is one where the audience has no choice but to laugh at the absurdity of the situation. Let’s remember, Jordan’s a 911 operator, not a kick-ass cop. As if this absurdity isn’t bad enough, the twist ending is shockingly perverse, with a move that doesn’t line up with anything seen in the rest of the film. It feels like an ending that was tacked on by studio mandate, rather than something organic to the story. It ultimately weakens the film, and takes what could have been a fairly standard thriller into hackneyed territory.