The Guilty (2021) || A Tense One-Room Thriller

This is one of those films that proves you don’t need car chases or multiple locations to create tension. The entire thing is basically Jake Gyllenhaal in a room, on the phone and yet it had me on edge more than some big-budget thrillers would. Although it kind of has the same storyline as Amber Alert which I also did a review of, I still found it gripping.

The story is basically about Joe Baylor (Gyllenhaal), a demoted cop working the night shift at a 911 call center. He’s restless, clearly dealing with some personal issues, when he picks up a call from a woman who seems to have been abducted. From there, the film unfolds in real time as he tries to piece together what’s happening and save her, while armed with nothing but a headset, a computer and his fraying nerves.

What makes this movie work for me is the claustrophobic focus. The camera rarely leaves Joe’s face and that means the entire weight of the story rests on his performance. Thankfully, he delivers. He’s frantic, angry, desperate, sometimes sympathetic, sometimes infuriating. I was with him through every spike of adrenaline and every bad judgment call.

The tension is real, too. Even though you’re just listening to phone calls, your imagination fills in the blanks. It’s proof that sometimes what you don’t see can be scarier and more gripping than anything shown onscreen.

That said, I do think the movie stumbles in a couple areas. The script occasionally feels too precise. It spells out emotions that would’ve been stronger left implied. Still, for a one-location thriller, I enjoyed it.

Also, the moral ambiguity of Joe’s character adds another interesting layer. You’re not just questioning whether he’ll save the caller, but also whether he’s even fit to be in this role given his own messy history. That dual tension absolutely had me engaged.

Would I recommend it? Yesss. Especially if you’re in the mood for a tight, character-driven thriller that doesn’t rely on spectacle. Just be prepared because it’s all Jake, the entire time. So, if you’re really not into his performance, the whole movie collapses.

Rating? A solid 7/10.