2020 saw the emergence of the Korean suspense thriller ‘The Call,’ which won applause from audiences for its unique narrative style, non-stop twists, and superb acting. This film, hailed by fans as the best thriller of the year, particularly showcases the performances of the two female leads – Park Shin-hye and Jeon Jong-seo, leaving viewers in awe and chilling to the core. Let’s uncover the secrets of why this work is called ‘maximum thrill value’ through plot and in-depth analysis.
Across Time with ‘The Call,’ Triggering a Fate Showdown
‘The Call’ revolves around two women living in different time periods: Kim Seo-yeon (Park Shin-hye) in modern-day 2019, and Oh Young-sook (Jeon Jong-seo) in the past of 1999. An ordinary old telephone becomes the link connecting their destinies.
The story begins with Kim Seo-yeon moving into an old house, where she discovers an old telephone while cleaning her room. Soon, she receives a call, and surprisingly, it’s Oh Young-sook who lived in that house 20 years ago. The phone brings the two closer, and they start sharing their lives with each other.
Kim Seo-yeon’s Situation: Mother critically ill, father deceased, living in loneliness and pain. Young-sook’s Predicament: Enduring abuse from her stepmother, living in utter darkness.
Through the phone, Kim Seo-yeon helps Young-sook change the past, even preventing her father’s accidental death. The brief happiness makes Seo-yeon grateful to Young-sook. However, things quickly spiral out of control as Young-sook reveals her dark side and begins to manipulate everything with the power of time.
Twists and Turns: From Friends to Enemies, a Time Game
Initially, the audience thought it was a heartwarming story of mutual rescue, but the plot quickly takes a dark turn, completely subverting everyone’s expectations.
Young-sook was initially a victim who escaped her stepmother’s clutches with Seo-yeon’s help.
However, with her newfound freedom, her inner turmoil and violence gradually surface. After harming her stepmother, she starts losing control, even extending her claws to other innocent people.
What’s even more chilling is Young-sook’s realization that by changing the past, she can directly impact Seo-yeon’s life. She begins to threaten Seo-yeon over the phone, even manipulating the timeline to erase Seo-yeon’s mother’s existence. This plunges Kim Seo-yeon into immense fear, and as the plot progresses, the audience too feels the oppressive nature of time and the uncontrollable fate of the characters.
Acting Showdown: Park Shin-hye and Jeon Jong-seo’s Peak Duel
If ‘The Call’s’ tense plot is a taut bowstring, the performances of the two actresses are the key to making this film a masterpiece.
Park Shin-hye: From a gentle, fragile Kim Seo-yeon to a cornered fighter pushed to the limit, her acting progresses layer by layer, with precise emotional expression. Especially during her escape, facing Young-sook’s manipulation of time causing despair and fear, the complex emotions in her eyes completely immerse the audience.
Jeon Jong-seo: Portraying Young-sook, she delivers a hair-raising performance that sends shivers down the spine. Her smile hides madness, her tone carries danger, and her every move keeps the audience guessing. Especially in the scenes where she threatens Seo-yeon, her psychological dominance leaves viewers breathless.
The two leading ladies engage in a dialogue through the phone, showcasing contrasting yet closely related emotional clashes. Without face-to-face scenes, only relying on voice and emotional progression, the tension felt by the audience is immense.
Infinite Reversals: The Ending Leaves a Deep Chill
‘The Call’s’ ending is considered one of the classic mind-bending plot twists. Just as Seo-yeon believes she has won the time game by altering all tragedies and successfully changing the past, the final scenes of the film deliver an unexpected blow – Young-sook still exists and regains control of time through the power of the past.
This twist not only astounds but also leaves the audience pondering long after the film ends. With an open-ended conclusion, the film propels the themes of ‘time,’ ‘fate,’ and ’cause and effect’ to a climax, prompting viewers to contemplate, what consequences would our choices bring if given the chance to change the past?
Highlights: Perfect Blend of Thrilling Atmosphere and Profound Exploration
Visuals and Atmosphere: The film creates a suspenseful and thrilling atmosphere through lighting, color, and spatial design. Despite the 20-year gap in the timelines of the two characters, through clever editing, the intertwining effect of the two timelines is smoothly and naturally presented.
Psychological Oppression: Whether it’s Young-sook’s chilling acts or Seo-yeon’s gradual breakdown, the film keeps the audience in a state of high tension, as if they too are entangled in this time-crossing game.
Profound Themes: While the film appears to be a thriller on the surface, upon deeper analysis, you’ll find it delves into revenge, desire, and moral dilemmas within human nature. When given the power to control time, do we choose to save ourselves or become another ‘demon’?
Conclusion: Best Korean Thriller of the Year, a Must-Watch Masterpiece!
‘The Call,’ with its unique narrative structure, stunning performances, and thought-provoking themes, stands as the pinnacle of Korean suspense films in recent years. Park Shin-hye and Jeon Jong-seo’s on-screen rivalry is a classic, and with their explosive performances, they take this story full of infinite reversals to its peak.
This film is not just a thrilling experience but also a profound contemplation on destiny and human nature. If you haven’t watched ‘The Call’ yet, open Netflix now and experience this spine-chilling yet irresistible masterpiece!
