The “solid” thriller is a remake of a 2018 Danish film but this time starring Hollywood actor Jake Gyllenhaal, who viewers can’t help but praise.
Released as a Netflix original movie, The Guilty is an American crime thriller starring and produced by Gyllenhaal, as his character Joe Baylor is faced with a difficult investigation. The LAPD officer is working a late-night shift at a 911 call centre whilst awaiting his court hearing about an incident that happened at work.
On what was supposed to be another night at the office he receives a call from Emily Lighton who tells him that she has been abducted but is soon forced to hang up the phone. Panic-stricken, Joe relays the information he has to the highway patrol, but without a license plate, they’re stuck.
Going against protocol, he calls her home and speaks to her daughter in an attempt to try and gain more information that will lead to her whereabouts. He’s soon reminded by his sergeant of the legalities of the situation and how he’s restricted, but determined to save Emily, he continues to dig deeper. Turns out, it’s even more complicated than he could have imagined.
A review on Rotten Tomatoes reads: “Very thrilling story which took me by surprise because of it only taking place in the office. Great acting but lacked a bit of backstory for the main character. Was not expecting the twist, which was a great shocker. Very thrilling thriller.”
Another viewer shared: “This movie deserves much more love than it gets, especially from the audience score. The twists are really well placed and heartbreaking. Great acting and not your typical genre setting. I haven’t watched the original, but I am really glad I gave this movie a chance.”
The one aspect of the film that seems to be repeated amongst reviews is the acting performance from Gyllenhaal in a film with very few characters. As people call into 911, we hear the voices of actors such as Ethan Hawke, Riley Keough and Paul Dano, but very few characters cement themselves in the story with the film focusing on the officer’s mission.
An impressed viewer claimed that The Guilty displays “one of the best pieces of acting I’ve ever seen.” They further wrote: “Great story. Reminds me of the imagination one had to use in the radio shows before TV. I would’ve given it five complete stars had the denouement been shorter.”
Someone else commented: “Jake made this movie; he completely sold me despite a thin plot. Could see what was coming, which meant the last third started to lose its oomph, and the tension faded instead of building.”
Although others have criticised the film and that of the A-lister’s performance, claiming that the “entire movie” shows Gyllenhaal’s character “working 911 calls with an attitude and some undisclosed baggage.”
While the film boasts a big number of five-star reviews, these opinions are reflected in its slightly above-average overall Rotten Tomatoes score of 74%.
If you’re looking to see Jake Gyllenhaal on your screen once again, you can watch the 2021 thriller, The Guilty, on Netflix now.