Don’t Hang Up is a nervous and frightening thriller that shows the sinister side of teenage jokes and the ghosts of the past. The plot revolves around a group of teenage boys and girls who decide to play a viral joke on a prank call, but soon turns into a nightmare when the boys and girls themselves get the focus of an unknown and vengeful man named Mr. Lee. The night progresses to a horrible game of life and death wherein the boys are taking their lives and those close to them at risk. The movie skillfully balances the digital recklessness, guilt as well as revenge themes, which makes the movie filled with suspense and leaving the viewers in the edge of the seats.
The strong points of the film are its close direction, rough camera work, and the good use of technology as a source of terrors. The acting of the young actors is credibly crude, and it reflects panic and desperation of the characters. The narrative moves at a fast rate, and there are episodes of extreme violence and emotional disclosure increasing the fear of the dread. The sound and production design also help to put the audience into the claustrophobic and nightmarish atmosphere, and each twist and turn becomes tangible and palpable. The horror is further enriched by the emotional depth, which is based on the motifs of loss, guilt, and destructive secret power, and it brings the horror to a new level.
The elaborate plot of the film with a lot of twists and turns can be overwhelming and awkward at times despite its strength. The finale, though thematically strong, creates a depressing and unresolved impression, which is not expected to please everyone. Nevertheless, don’t hang up is a fascinating and thought-provoking horror-thriller that haunts even after watching. It is a naked account of what digital viciousness, the wounds of history past, and how vengeance can go wrong, eliciting a physical reaction of horror, indignation, and depression.
