The Guilty streams on Netflix from October 1, 2021.
Synopsis
The film takes place over the course of a single morning in a 911 dispatch call center. Call operator Joe Baylor (Jake Gyllenhaal) tries to save a caller in grave danger-but he soon discovers that nothing is as it seems, and facing the truth is the only way out.
Review
Based on the 2018 Danish thriller of the same name, The Guilty is a film with the strength of character to understand both its advantages and its shortcomings. In the hands of an actor with less intensity than Jake Gyllenhaal we could be looking at 91 minutes of awkward, dead air.
But re-teaming Gyllenhaal with director Antoine Fuqua, the two previously collaborated on 2015’s Southpaw, makes for a truly compelling experience. Gyllenhaal adeptly handles the balancing act between his own character’s unravelling situation and the kidnap scenario he finds himself caught up in.
Astonishingly, it took only 11 days to complete production on this version of The Guilty. An intense shoot which relied heavily on Gyllenhaal’s weighty performance. With True Detective scribe Nic Pizzolatto reworking the original script from Gustav Möller and Emil Nygaard Albertsen there are a few minor changes to the setup. Joe now has a wife and child who, given his demotion, are distancing themselves from him. Much to his chagrin. There’s also a focus on location, particularly Californian wildfires, which cements this as an American adaption.
Beyond these small tweaks, much of the original film remains in place. Joe’s emotionally unstable state bubbles to the surface throughout the film, highlighting his own plight. There are breadcrumbs throughout The Guilty which the audience uses to piece together events prior to the film. On first watch it’s incredibly fun to try and hop between the two situations, uncovering the truth in both is a compelling but also highly rewarding journey.
The slow burn across both stories also gives The Guilty true re-watch value. There will inevitably be clues missed, signposts not followed and dialogue misinterpreted. Expect plenty of dissection as the film is analysed by the experts.
Joe’s lack of empathy for a series of idiotic callers lightens the relentlessly tense mood. But never takes away from the seriousness of his interactions with the hysterical Emily Lighton (Riley Keough). Emily has been kidnapped by her ex-husband Henry Fisher (Peter Sarsgaard). She’s been bundled in the back of his van and it’s up to Joe to identify her location and ensure her rescue.
Emily’s situation speaks to Joe’s history as an active police officer. Unable to do more than simply speak with her on the phone, the scenario only serves to inflame Joe’s already fractious mood. But seeing through Joe’s vitriolic outpourings it’s clear that he cares. Gyllenhaal does an outstanding job of communicating Joe’s empathy through his angst.
The Guilty orchestrates situations to break off communication between Joe and Emily. It allows the script time to bring in a number of supporting players including a sergeant voiced by Ethan Hawke and a CPH voiced by Da’Vine Joy Randolph. Joe also ropes in his off-duty partner Rick (Eli Goree), a situation which really begins to shine a light on his impending hearing.
At its core The Guilty remains a tense and compelling thriller. Whilst some of the updates skew the film in a more Hollywood direction it doesn’t take away from the core elements which make the film a true “must-watch.”
Verdict
The Guilty is a tense, angsty thriller which brilliantly spins out a number of stories through its tight and often claustrophobic setting.
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