‘Lifeline’ Review
Stars: Josh Stewart, August Maturo, Judah Lewis, Charlene Amoia, Luke Benward, Craig Stark, P.L. Brown | Written by Brady Morell, Brian Price | Directed by Feras Alfuqaha
Steven Thomas (Josh Stewart; The Collector, Cold Moon) is an aspiring writer who volunteers at Lifeline, a suicide prevention crisis centre. First-time feature director Feras Alfuqaha and writers Brady Morell (When the Music Stops Playing, The Motions) and Brian Price allow us to sit in with Thomas during his first few calls, giving us a glimpse into his demeanour and capabilities.
He’s calm, methodical, and competent, making it clear that while this might be new territory for him, he has the empathy and composure needed for the job. Everything seems routine until he receives a call from a young man who not only claims he is about to *** himself but also shares his name. At first, Steven assumes it’s his son, Jeff (August Maturo; Slapface, Girl Meets World), pulling an elaborate and deeply inappropriate prank. But as the conversation unfolds, the truth turns out to be something even more unnerving. The caller isn’t his son, but rather his younger self (Judah Lewis; Summer of ‘84, Suitable Flesh). Suddenly, Steven is forced to confront a past he had long since buried. In order to save this younger version of himself—and, by extension, his present-day self—he must unravel repressed memories of an abusive childhood and face the trauma that shaped him into the man he is today.
Lifeline blends elements of psychological drama with touches of supernatural fantasy. The film introduces intriguing sci-fi adjacent elements, such as phone calls from the past and mini earthquakes that only Steven seems to notice, alongside stark realism centred on parental abuse and unresolved trauma. The combination is compelling and reminiscent of films like Transmission and Dead Air, where the fantastical is used to explore the psychological.
The biggest challenge Lifeline faces, however, is its format. A significant portion of the film—roughly 90%—is just Steven talking on the phone. No matter how talented the lead actor is, it’s difficult to make that visually engaging for an extended period.
Despite Josh Stewart delivering a committed performance and Judah Lewis providing solid support in a primarily vocal role, the film struggles to maintain visual interest. Cinematographer Rasa Partin (The Immaculate Room, Jagged Mind) makes a valiant effort to add depth to the call centre setting, using lighting and framing to break up the monotony. However, the film remains visually static, and even the strongest performances can only do so much to counteract that.
As a drama, Lifeline has emotional weight and a genuinely engaging premise. However, the narrative hinges on a couple of crucial plot points, including an overused twist that makes it difficult to discuss in detail without major spoilers. The back-and-forth between the two versions of Steven and the emotional themes the film raises keep the story compelling, at least, up until the moment it decides to explain its own premise.
Unfortunately, this is where the film stumbles. Rather than embracing ambiguity or deeper psychological exploration, Lifeline leans into heavy-handed explanations that venture into clichéd territory. The film loses momentum as it attempts to explain its supernatural elements, culminating in an unsatisfying and overly familiar ending that leaves too many loose ends unresolved.
It’s unfortunate because, for the majority of its 80-minute runtime, Lifeline is a gripping, if not entirely groundbreaking, film. When it stays focused on its emotional core, exploring things like trauma, regret, and the idea of confronting one’s past, it’s at its strongest. But it falters when it tries too hard to differentiate itself from other call-centre dramas by adding unnecessary narrative gimmicks. Rather than elevating the story, these elements ultimately undermine it, making the final act feel more contrived than cathartic.
Still, Lifeline offers an intriguing premise and strong performances, making it worth a watch for those interested in psychological dramas with a supernatural twist. Just don’t expect it to fully deliver on its ambitious setup.
*** 3/5
Dark Sky Films have released Lifeline in select theatres and on digital platforms today, February 21st.
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