Lifeline

The movie started well, caracters study was good, the actors were decent, but then I realized the movie was dragging and not wanting to get to the the fulcral point of the narrative. When I realized the core plot only started being developed almost at the end of the run-time, I felt something was off. It ended being a run of the mill twilight zone wannabe but very stretched out. The message had good intentions, but it was written in a very forced artificial way. This could have been a much better movie, if it had gone the sci-fi route, but I guess they didn't know what they were aiming for, or maybe they did, but the execution was flawed. It has a very decent photography, and it's a shame how it ended so abruptly. It kept me hooked until the end, but the cheap ending, and some redundant micro plots, didn't do it for me. The plot holes were also lazy writing. With a bit more effort in the narrative, they could have had an Indy gem.

A real puzzle of story with crisp, natural dialogue and a fantastic lead performance by Josh Stewart. Surprising at several turns. Flies by and leaves you thinking about what is real and what is not, what is in the past and what is in the present. I found myself switching perspectives and perceptions about the reality time, the state of Steven's mind, the possibility of so many unknowns.

There are beautiful sequences and while not exactly scary, there are times when the suspense if palpable and uncomfortable enough to cause some nail-biting.

It is a film I would watch again to test assumptions I made the first time round.

Sometimes all we need is to hear a familiar story. This one is quite touching.

A well executed film with a very solid performance from the lead, which is quite relevant seeing how intimate the whole setting is, almost completely resting upon his shoulders. Unfortunately, the script is trying to be a bit too clever for its own good, putting too much focus on certain details which just distract from what it's really about. Regardless, "Lifeline" as a whole manages to get its emotion through and it's definitely worth your time.

I probably wouldn't mind watching it once again in the future if I feel this is the story someone really needs to hear.

This movie has a strong message and should be seen. But. All the little carefully planted mysterious things we encounter throughout the story that makes us continue are sadly tied together in the least innovative way in the last few minutes which makes the whole movie seem worse than it was. Not exaggerating when I thought of it as a waste of time just after finishing it.

Almost any other explanation, except for maybe the main character waking up at home from a dream, would have been fine. But even that ending would have made more sense. Too bad, since the acting was great and they made a suspenseful story out of very few actors and sets.

Brady Morrell and Brian Price have written a superb screenplay, and despite the dark themes of childhood trauma and suicide, the writers manage to convey a message of hope and human sympathy. It draws one in from the very beginning and sustains the viewers emotional engagement throughout. The acting is really excellent, while the main actor, Josh Stewart, is especially credible in the demanding role of the suicide hotline host. The supporting cast is equally up the task of maintaining the dramatic intensity throughout. Morell and Price have done a truly remarkable job in crafting a very satisfying and indeed enriching drama.