A distraught and suicidal young woman (superbly played with bracing intensity by Laurie Lathem) dials a random telephone number and gets a sympathetic lonely guy (a terrifically restrained performance by Bud Cort of "Harold and Maude" fame) on the line. It's up to the man to talk this lady out of killing herself with a pistol. Writer/director Eric Red adroitly milks the gripping premise for a tremendous amount of heart-racing tension and maintains a snappy pace throughout. Moreover, Red manages to make a profound statement about the pain and anguish of everyday existence as well as the basic human need for connection and companionship. The outstanding acting from the two splendid leads really keeps things humming, with Lathem a particular stand-out with her poignant portrayal of a burnt-out woman who's at the end of her emotional tether. The stark 16mm cinematography by Geeza Sinkovics boasts plenty of smooth pans and graceful tracking shots. The bond that forms between these two desperate and isolated characters is genuinely touching. Told with great clarity and simplicity, this taut and absorbing little beaut is well worth checking out.
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