**THE WACPINE OF 'PHONE BOOTH'**


WRITING: 7
ATMOSPHERE: 8
CHARACTERS: 7
PRODUCTION: 6
INTRIGUE: 8
NOVELTY: 6
ENJOYMENT: 7


----


**The Good:**


What works surprisingly well is the intense and adrenaline-filled performance from Colin Farrell in the lead as well as his pathogenic relationship with the creepily calm Kiefer Sutherland in a brilliant vocal performance. Both performances turn more intense as the film goes on, which adds to the overall tension and thrill.


Forest Whitaker puts in a great performance as well, but that's what wed come to expect from him.


Most of the action happens inside and around a phone booth, but the fierce performances, the constantly shifting angles and the steady flow of new hooks I'm the plot keep the story going and the tension sufficiently high.


The script has its gripping moments, held up by the growing tension, the panicking characters and the sudden spurs of chaos as Stu tries and fails to take over the control of the situation.


The ending is sure to enrage some viewers, but I found it enchantingly different from the norm, even if some kind of proper closure would have been welcome.


----


**The Bad:**


The small boxes showing the people Stu talk on the phone with is a funny little idea, but the way the boxes appear on the screen make the production seem very cheap. It's like a high school group working on a project and playing around with Windows Movie Maker for the very first time.


The other performances are average at best, and most of them pretty poor. They lack the weight needed to keep the tension high. They just create chaos that is unpleasant to watch.


Despite the fast-paced editing, the tension between the characters and the disgusting mind games Stu has to go through, there's a general lack of plot progression, which makes the film feel longer than its 80 minutes.


I've always been allergic to generic and cheap thriller film soundtracks, and this one features another one of those.


---


**The Ugly:**


Is it just my modern mind playing tricks on me, or did we hear Stu talk about WhatsApp Magazine? Cause that would be creepy foreshadowing!


--


**WACPINE RATING: 7.00 / 10 = 3,5 stars**