Greetings again from the darkness. Let's start with this disclosure: the original Danish film from Gustav Moller was one of my top 5 favorite films of 2018. Even then, I fully expected an Americanized version to happen at some point. The surprise is having director Antoine Fuqua (TRAINING DAY, 2001) handle the remake. He's known more for bombast and action, than the nuanced suspense delivered by the original. To offset this, Mr. Fuqua wisely chose the dependable Jake Gyllenhaal as his lead, and the talented Nic Pizzolatto (creator and lead writer of HBO's "True Detective") to adapt the screenplay.

Gyllenhaal never cheats the audience, and he dives into the role with his typical full force commitment. Except for a few blurry visuals of cars on the highway and the dramatic opening shots of the raging California fires, Gyllenhaal's Joe Baylor is on screen for the entire run. He's a detective on desk duty at the 911 call center pending his court case on charges that only become clear towards the end. Joe is also separated from his wife and daughter; a crucial element in how his shift plays out in front of us.

As we listen in on his first few calls, it becomes obvious how Joe's time on the streets have fine-tuned his quick-to-judge persona. He's not shy about telling callers their own choices are responsible for their current predicament. Just as he's about to dismiss his latest caller Emily, his instincts kick in, and he discerns that she's been abducted by her husband in a white van, and fears for her safety. This initial call between Joe and Emily is a work of art, and kicks off the nearly unbearable tension for the rest of the movie and Joe's shift.

Fuqua and Pizzolatto infuse commentary unique to modern day America. The fires are always in the background impacting emergency resources, as well as the air being breathed. Police collusion and abuse of power are also an underlying aspect of what unfolds in front of us. Yet somehow, the film (perhaps accidentally) speaks to the immense pressure faced by law enforcement and how instincts and quick judgments are crucial to assistance and survival. Joe bounces from calm demeanor to explosive overreaction in the blink of an eye - or the beep of an incoming call. We witness how preconceived notions can lead one astray, even if they've worked in the past.

In addition to Gyllenhaal's commendable performance, the film includes terrific voice work (via phone) from such actors as Riley Keough (as Emily),Peter Sarsgaard, Ethan Hawke, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Christiana Montoya, and Paul Dano. Adrian Martinez and Christina Vidal appear alongside Gyllenhaal in the call center, although the single setting contributes to this being mostly a one-man show.

We understand that Joe Baylor is seeking personal redemption in his all-out pursuit to save Emily, and one line in the film speaks directly to this: "Broken people save broken people." If you haven't seen the original, you are likely to get caught up in the tension, and ask yourself many of the same questions Joe is asking himself at the end. Gyllenhaal previously teamed with director Fuqua in SOUTHPAW (2015),but this crime thriller is something different for both. If you are up to the challenge, watch this version and the original, so that you can compare the contrasting approaches.

Streaming on Netflix beginning October 1, 2021.

Antoine Fuqua directs Jake Gyllenhaal in the thriller 'The Guilty'. The film grabs your attention, and steadily tightens its grip throughout the film, unfolding story layers one by one, increasing tension and anticipation with each layer exposed.

Despite only being 90 minutes, the experience is satisfyingly exhausting, and by the end of the film, I was compelled to say simply "WOW!"

Riley Keough, Ethan Hawk, Paul Dano, Peter Sarsgaard, David Castaneda, Bill Burr, Gillian Zinser, Aileen Burdock and Christiana Montoya provide some of the distinctive voices on the other end of the phone calls.

This film is a remake of the acclaimed 2018 Danish film of the same title.

Hard to predict Oscar nominations these days, but Jake deserves the nod for certain.

Great performances by the entire cast whether seen or just heard. A SAG ensemble nod would be fitting as well.

Best to NOT read detailed plot/story-line summaries and reviews, or view lengthy trailers that may give away too much of the story. The unfolding of the story is one of the key elements to the film's success.

If you like tense thrillers with the acting as the catalyst, this is one to simply jump into and watch.

I thought it was a great movie, but then I saw in the comments that there was a Danish original which was better. And to that I say... soooooooo? I rate this particular movie only based on its merits. I found almost no problems with it.