Reviewed by Rama Gaind.
Director: Romuald Boulanger, Icon Film Distribution
For a quarter-of-a-century, Elvis has been one of those legendary radio hosts, giving advice to callers on his distinguishing night talk show in Los Angeles.
Elvis (played by Oscar winner Mel Gibson, Braveheart, Hacksaw Ridge) solves the problems of his listeners with his iconic voice and strong repartee. He has an opinion on everything and just dives into any type of discussion.
Fiercely independent, he has never been wavered by competition from inside or outside the station. He ignores the warning signs of his boss who sees the ratings of his show dropping. He effortlessly faces every situation with know-how and charm, aided by his switchboard operator Mary, a new young producer Dylan and an intern June.
Initially there’s fast-paced action, but the build-up slowly eases us into the thriller. Elvis asks his listeners to settle in and relax. On one of those nights, as he falls into his routine of answering phone calls and dispensing advice, the pace picks up when a caller named Gary threatens to kill his family on air. It’s a call that might destroy his career, his whole life. That’s when the survival game begins, taking Elvis on a journey he will never forget!
He remains cool and collected as he asks the mysterious caller his whereabouts, but tensions rise when Gary reveals he is calling from the protagonist’s home. Then there’s danger in store for the entire station, with an action-packed showdown for the characters once they learn the caller’s true identity.
Working together for the first time with Kevin Dillon, Gibson gives a strong performance. This is French filmmaker Romuald Boulanger’s second feature since Connectés in 2020. The original music for On the Line was created by 24-year-old composer Clement Perin, who has already worked on two other movies with Boulanger.
- On the Line is in cinemas on 17 November 2022
