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PRIVATE PROPERTY |
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2024 FANON WIKI AWARD NOMINEE! |
- ❝ A strange call can save her.❞
- ―Movie tagline
Anonymous Call is a 2024 American psychological thriller film written and directed by Darren Aronofsky. It stars Ruby Rose, Jenna Ortega, Dominic Rains, Sean Penn, and Toni Collette. The film follows a decorated army commander who must infiltrate a terrorist cell after its leader kidnaps the Prime Minister's daughter and contacts her directly.
Produced by Miramax and Paramount Players, Anonymous Call had a limited theatrical release in the United States on February 9, 2024, before its global streaming debut on FalcoTalon+ on February 15. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised Aronofsky's direction and Rose's performance, though some noted the plot's familiarity.
Plot[]
Commander Julia Heyman, a determined and skilled female army commander, receives a chilling anonymous message from a terrorist who claims to have kidnapped the Prime Minister's daughter, Taylor Basinger. The terrorist, who goes by the alias "Red Lion," demands that Julia join his group in exchange for the girl's life. As Julia delves deeper into the situation, she discovers that Red Lion was also behind a devastating terrorist attack. To save Taylor and stop the terrorists, Julia disguises herself and infiltrates the group, risking everything in a dangerous game of deception and survival.
Synopsis[]
Commander Julia Heyman, a highly respected but personally haunted U.S. Army officer, is on administrative leave after a mission went awry. Her quiet life is shattered when she receives a distorted, anonymous video call. The caller, who identifies himself only as "Red Lion," shows her that he has kidnapped Taylor Basinger, the teenage daughter of U.S. Prime Minister James Basinger.
Red Lion makes a cryptic and personal demand: he does not want a ransom but insists that Julia, and only Julia, must join his organization to secure Taylor's release. He reveals his knowledge of Julia's past operations, implying a deep connection to her military history. The Prime Minister and his security team are thrown into chaos, wary of the terrorist's specific demand for a single officer.
Connecting Red Lion to a recent, devastating bombing, Julia convinces the Prime Minister to allow her to go undercover. She follows a series of clues left by the terrorist, leading her to the group's hideout. There, she meets the charismatic and ruthless leader, who reveals himself to be Sammy Rizk, a former asset she believed was killed in a drone strike she commanded years ago. Filled with a desire for revenge, Rizk seeks to expose the covert operations and moral compromises of Western governments by forcing Julia to participate in his next major attack.
While feigning allegiance, Julia works to gain Rizk's trust and locate Taylor, who is being held at a separate location. Julia discovers that Taylor's best friend, Megan, was murdered during the kidnapping to prove the severity of the threat. As she gets deeper into the organization, Julia must navigate the paranoia of Rizk's followers and perform morally questionable tasks to maintain her cover. She secretly leaves a trail of breadcrumbs for her government contacts but is largely on her own.
The climax occurs as Rizk's group prepares to launch a chemical attack on a major financial summit. Julia learns that Taylor is being held at the same location, intended to be a victim to maximize the political impact. In a tense race against time, Julia must neutralize Rizk's cell, prevent the chemical weapon's release, and rescue Taylor. In a final confrontation, Julia confronts Rizk, who forces her to choose between stopping him and saving Taylor. Using her tactical skills, she manages to do both, but not without sustaining serious injuries.
In the aftermath, Taylor is reunited with her family, Rizk is killed, and his plot is foiled. Julia, hailed as a hero, remains contemplative about the moral costs of her duties.
Cast[]
- Ruby Rose as Commander Julia Heyman, a skilled army officer tasked with infiltrating a terrorist cell.
- Jenna Ortega as Taylor Basinger, the kidnapped daughter of the Prime Minister.
- Dominic Rains as Sammy Rizk / "Red Lion," the vengeful and charismatic leader of the terrorist organization.
- Sean Penn as Prime Minister James Basinger, the concerned father and leader of the country.
- Toni Collette as First Lady Amanda Basinger, Taylor's mother.
- Billie Elliot as Megan, Taylor's friend who is murdered by the terrorists.
Production[]
Development[]
The project was first announced in May 2022, with Darren Aronofsky attached to direct and write a spec script he had penned titled The Lion's Den. Aronofsky described the film as a "character-driven, high-stakes thriller that explores the gray areas of duty and vengeance in the modern age of asymmetric warfare." Miramax and Paramount's revived label, Paramount Players, acquired the rights in a competitive bidding war and officially greenlit the project in late 2022.
Casting[]
In September 2022, Ruby Rose was the first to be cast in the lead role of Commander Julia Heyman. Aronofsky noted that he sought an actor who could convey both physical strength and deep emotional vulnerability. The following month, Jenna Ortega and Dominic Rains joined the cast as the captive and the antagonist, respectively. Sean Penn and Toni Collette were added in November 2022 as the Prime Minister and First Lady.
Filming[]
Principal photography began on April 10, 2023, and concluded in July 2023. Filming took place on location in Washington D.C. for establishing shots and in Budapest, Hungary, which doubled for various international settings. Interior scenes were filmed at Origo Film Studios in Budapest. Cinematographer Barry Peterson utilized anamorphic lenses to create a tense, claustrophobic visual style.
Music[]
The film's score was composed by David Sardy. The official soundtrack was released by Lakeshore Records on February 15, 2024. In addition to Sardy's score, the film features several licensed songs to underscore key sequences.
Featured songs[]
- "Echoes of War" by Jóhann Jóhannsson
- "Into the Shadows" by Nine Inch Nails
- "Silent Screams by Hildur Guðnadóttir
- "Whispers in the Dark" by Massive Attack
- "Crimson Lies" by Cliff Martinez
- "Break the Chains" by M83
- "Redemption" by Hans Zimmer
- "Echoes of Silence" by Max Richter
- "A New Dawn" by Radiohead
- "Sweet Savior" by Gina Skyes
Release[]
Anonymous Call premiered at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on February 7, 2024. It received a one-week limited theatrical run in select theaters in New York and Los Angeles starting February 9, 2024, to qualify for awards consideration. The film was released globally on the streaming service FalcoTalon+ on February 15, 2024.
Reception[]
Critical response[]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 82% of 115 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.1/10. The website's consensus reads, "Led by a compellingly stoic performance from Ruby Rose, Anonymous Call is a tense and efficient thriller that overcomes its familiar setup with Darren Aronofsky's confident direction." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 68 out of 100, based on 32 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
Critics praised Rose for her commanding lead performance, with many calling it a career-best. Dominic Rains' portrayal of the antagonist also received acclaim for its charisma and intensity. Aronofsky's direction was highlighted for its suspenseful pacing and gritty realism. Some criticism was aimed at the screenplay, with several reviewers noting that the plot adhered to established thriller genre conventions, but most agreed the execution elevated the material.
Accolades[]
- 2024 Fanon Wiki Awards - Best Thriller Film (Nominated)
- 52nd Saturn Awards - Best Thriller Film (Nominated)
- Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards 2024 - Best Female Actor (International) - Ruby Rose (Nominated)
Trivia[]
- Rated PG-13 for moderate violence throughout, language, some sexual references, some use of drug, and/or intense frightening sequences.