Phone Booth

This thriller is unique in that it is filmed almost entirely at the same location – a Manhattan Phone booth. Arrogant and obnoxious PR man Stu (an excellent performance by Colin Farrell) uses the same phone booth everyday to call his would-be girlfriend (a thankfully underused Katie Holmes), but has attracted some attention that he does not want.

When the phone rings in the booth, he answers it and then finds his world turned upside down. The caller on the other end knows all about him, about his wife and girlfriend and wants him to pay for not being a nice person. He also has a rifle which he uses to cause trouble. You have to wonder why the sniper (voiced by a sinister Keifer Sutherland) would go to all that trouble and the reasons given were not as satisfactory as I would have liked but the speed of the film, the quality performances and the many twists kept me hooked.

Because most of the film is shot in the confined location of a phone booth with our anti-hero Stu, the film is strongly dialogue led but you do not tire of it as he uses all his wiles to get one over the sniper who seems to remain one step ahead all the time. Director Joel Schumacher must be credited for keeping the story tight and twisting at all times.

A mention must go to Forest Whitaker, whose good cop character, whilst not entirely original, gives you faith that one day all will be well.

Running Time: 81 mins.

DVD Extras included an audio commentary by Director Joel Schumacher, which I found a bit dull. There was also a short ‘Making Of’ documentary.

7.5/10