Nowadays, it’s hard not to get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of titles available on Netflix. A far cry from the start-up streamer it used to be, the service now carries countless lists of global hits, iconic originals, and row after endless row of recommendations divided by genre. This scale of cinematic access is a testament to the privilege of living in the digital age, but it also makes it easy for even the most well-crafted films to slip through the cracks of public attention, and that is exactly what happened to one stellar film from all the way back in 2020. Directed by South Korean filmmaker Lee Chung-hyun, The Call is a phenomenal treat for fans of sci-fi and the thriller genre, one whose artistic achievements have slipped under the radar for far too long.
What Is 2020’s ‘The Call’ About?
Originally set for a theatrical release before the COVID-19 pandemic relegated it to a quiet debut on Netflix, The Call is yet another in the long list of unfortunate projects to suffer from one of the worst years in recent human history. Between the rampant headlines, cancellations, delays, and uncertainties of that time, it’s easy to see why the film wasn’t able to find the widespread audience it deserved, though The Call did nevertheless receive high praise from the few critics and general audience members fortunate enough to see it, and for good reason. The story revolves around Kim Seo-yeon (Park Shin-hye) in the year 2019, a young woman who returns to her childhood home in order to visit her sick mother (Kim Sung-ryung) only to discover that she is receiving phone calls from the house’s previous resident, Oh Young-sook (Jeon Jong-seo), in the year 1999.
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The Call takes full advantage of this surreal premise to subsequently deliver an intense, high-stakes interplay between both time periods, leveraging a concise script, chilling performances, and mind-bending special effects in what ultimately amounts to a hidden gem of high cinematic quality. As both women use their newfound power over the past and knowledge of the future to rectify tragic family circumstances, The Call evolves into a thought-provoking commentary on how people can never outsmart their grief and how even victims of trauma can be far more dangerous than they seem. The increasingly fraught relationship between both residents also raises moral questions about whether it is right to save someone who forces others to be saved and what it means to harbor an inner darkness, allowing The Call to balance its sci-fi elements with a deeply cerebral focus as its protagonist’s psyche gradually unravels.
‘The Call’ Uses Soft Sci-Fi To Deliver a Thriller of Harrowing Familial Suspense
No small part of The Call‘s appeal lies in this masterful balance of multiple genres. As multiple versions of the film’s original timeline emerge and Young-sook’s newfound freedom inadvertently creates a vicious serial killer, The Call feels like a thrilling blend of Everything Everywhere All at Once and The Black Phone, using its Earth-shattering landline to subject Seo-yeon to multiple timelines that test the limits of her love and sanity. Likewise, what could feel like no more than a gimmick in another film becomes a crucial tool for suspense as the relationship between Seo-yeon and Young-sook deteriorates, as the viewer is constantly left on the edge of their seat wondering how the latter will use her control of the past to ruin Seo-yeon’s life in the present.
During these moments of uncertainty and helplessness, The Call is as riveting as the most exhilarating thrillers of the genre, delivering sequences of violence as brutal as Oldboy and as emotionally-charged as Parasite. The film’s reliance on soft, more human-centered sci-fi also allows it to pull off a nerve-wracking ending that feels as personal as it is harrowing. The post-credits scenes that follow its final moments add yet another wrinkle to The Call‘s increasingly complex timeline, providing a layer of ambiguity that leaves the film open to the kind of interpretation that makes you want to watch it again and again, similar to Christopher Nolan‘s Inception.
All of these elements ultimately culminate in a film with the depth to captivate a broad audience, a story that explores hidden hatreds, the lies we tell ourselves over time, and the fraught trauma between mothers and daughters of multiple generations. It may be easier than ever to overlook a well-made movie that never received its turn in the spotlight, but The Call‘s rich storytelling and innovative suspense make it more than deserving of at least joining the ranks of Hollywood’s cult classics. What’s more, the unfortunate circumstances of The Call‘s release serve as a reminder that there are entire swaths of stellar films just waiting to be shared and rediscovered, if only we decide to answer their call.
- Release Date
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November 27, 2020
- Runtime
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112 Minutes
- Director
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Chung-Hyun Lee
- Writers
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Sergio Casci, Chung-Hyun Lee
