CELLULAR

Film Four · Thriller · 16 Jul 2010 · by: Film 4

Kim Basinger stars as Jessica Martin, a teacher kidnapped by a vicious criminal Greer (Jason Statham) who wants a secret that her husband possesses. Locking her in an attic, he smashes her cell phone but she happens to be a science teacher and jury-rigging the broken phone, she is able to call a random cell phone number - which happens to belong to slacker Ryan (Chris Evans). Convincing him of her plight is the first step - next, she has to help him find her and stop her husband and son coming to harm. But he has his own problems - cop Bob Mooney (William H Macy) doesn't believe his story and even worse, Greer's on his tail.

Co-writer Larry Cohen also wrote Phone Booth and he racks up the tension again by giving Ryan, like Colin Farrell's Stu Shepherd, a character that those in authority aren't going to believe straightaway. Macy, whose presence graces any film, excels as the disbelieving cop who comes onside as the film develops but with methodical precision rather than action-filled heroic. The action sequences, when they come, are wonderfully OTT but they don't detract from a thoughtful, tense thriller.