The Call - 1 1/2 smiles

For the first two-thirds of its running time, “The Call” is a solid thriller with a genuinely creepy villain and a message of female empowerment. And it’s interesting to explore some of the inner workings of a 911 call center, which has a ring of verisimilitude. But once Halle Berry’s character leaves the center, or The Hive as its called, the story goes from stupid to stupidest by the time the end credits roll. And although the acting is solid and there are a few gotcha moments, the preposterousness of the climax had me shaking my head as I left the theater.

The movie opens in an expansive LA Police Department 911 call center. These first responders calmly talk people through a wide range of emergencies from a bat flying around a child’s room to heart attacks and gun shots. Veteran operator Jordan Turner (Berry) makes a tactical error when talking to a terrified teenager who is home alone when a man breaks into her house. Jordan is haunted by her mistake, so much so that after a leave of absence, she comes back to work as a trainer. But Jordan ends of taking a call from Casey (Abigail Breslin), who has been abducted from a shopping mall and thrown into the trunk of a car. Determined to save Casey, Jordan comes up with some effective ways to provide the police with tips on Casey’s whereabouts. But they’re dealing with a deranged kidnapper (Michael Eklund). Unfortunately, Eklund plays it way over the top and the story grows increasingly preposterous the more he’s on the screen. You might think twice if you’re planning to see “The Call.” 3/15/13