Night Call: Fantastic Fest Review

Every day we go about our lives, swimming through the river that is life. Things, however, don’t always go as planned. While you’re just swimming along, you may find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time, and suddenly your journey becomes much more complicated. We often forget how precious time is and how one moment can change the course of our lives. Michiel Blanchart’s new film Night Call is about one of those moments and the night that transforms a young man’s life.

Mady (Jonathan Feltre) is just a guy trying to pull himself out of the life he’s been dealt. While studying, he works as a locksmith at night, minding his own business and helping people out. But sometimes, meeting a stranger can lead to unexpected consequences. On his second call of the night, Mady gets a call from a woman named Claire (Natacha Krief), who has locked herself out of her apartment. Following protocol, Mady asks for payment upfront and an ID—both of which Claire claims are inside the apartment. Trusting her, Mady proceeds with the job, expecting everything to be as she said. Once the door is opened, Claire tells Mady she needs to go to the ATM and take out the trash, leaving him to wait inside. Shortly after she leaves, Claire calls Mady, urging him to leave the apartment immediately. But it’s too late—the apartment’s real resident returns.

Written by Gilles Marchand and Blanchart, Night Call is a nocturnal urban thriller that also explores timely social issues. Blanchart, who resides in Brussels—the city where Night Call is set—uses the city as a vivid backdrop, almost like another character in the film. With this backdrop, Mady must adapt as tension builds throughout the story, keeping viewers guessing about what will happen next. This isn’t just an action thriller; the political context woven into the narrative adds depth and complexity to Mady’s journey as he runs throughout the night.

Night Call is one of those films that grabs you from the start and doesn’t let go. It excels not just because of its action but also because of its strong characters. Leading the way is Feltre, who, as Mady, masterfully demonstrates the evolution of what someone undergoes when faced with life-or-death scenario. The key to the film’s success is that you never know what choices Mady will make, and this uncertainty pays off by the film’s climax. While the first half of the movie is more of a slow build, when the tension finally breaks, Night Call becomes an excellent action film.

I didn’t really know what to expect going into Night Call, but when it was over, I realized I had witnessed something truly special. Blanchart delivers not only a thought-provoking film but also one that’s visually and audibly engaging. Night Call is a movie for anyone striving to rise above their circumstances and make something of their life—and for anyone who just loves a good, entertaining film.