User reviews

If you are a film student you know that the "reversal" usually comes in the final act, and there is a reason for that. By that point, the viewer is fully engaged, the endorphins are pumping, the action is flowing, and there is a need to take things up a notch.

What is happening here -- and let's give credit where credit is due -- is that the reversal takes place off the top, two pranksters get the tables turned, and it all happens in the first 10 minutes.

That is clever and it is a great start. But it creates problems. If you bring the reversal in too early, you run the risk of becoming dependent on it to drive the film, instead of relying on the basics. Such as dialog, characterizations, empathy, viewer connection.

Which is what happens here. After a great start there are major chunks that just lag, and the reason is that -- to be blunt -- by the halfway point, if you are a typical viewer, you don't really care if the 'slasher' gets the kids or the kids get the slasher. NO EMPATHY.

Many of the subsequent "slasher tropes" that close the third act are just that -- borrowed tricks from dozens of films you have already seen.

Overall the film is technically perfect and at some point in the not-too-distant future, those involved in it will look back at DON'T HANG UP as a great start for their Highlight Reel, but not entirely representative of their best work.

"Don't Hang Up" (2017) is an absolutely derivative horror movie that nevertheless manages to be halfway decent. I'd rate it a 7 out of 10.

We follow a handful of older teenage boys whose favorite avocation is perpetrating cruel prank phone calls and then posting them on the Internet. The horror genre's penchant for vengeance should make their comeuppance predictable. "Don't Hang Up" seems to borrow in equal (large) measure from the "Saw" and "Scream" film franchises, with touches of "Unfriended" (2014) and even "Silence of the Lambs" (1991).

Still, this was a halfway serviceable scary movie. There were nice moments of tension, and it held my interest.

This doesn't belong on anyone's must-see list, but it's a fun enough time-waster if you can't find a better movie.

I read the plot first before watch the whole movie. Then, I get interested and then I watched the whole movie. First 15 minutes was okay for me for the story, two boys prank a lot of people with terrible jokes. By the time the antagonist play the role, I intentionally started to feel like "it is a bit exaggerated". It doesn't make sense that the protagonist knows every corner, every single thing the two boys did. It could make a sense if this film tells us the story behind it how the antagonist set all the cameras, how he get into those two boys' life, house, and makes an acceptable rapprochement. The good thing is the ending is not disappointed and makes sense yet I'm not that satisfied with the sense of its technology in this movie (it's like the murderer is a god. Knows everything).

Don't Hang Up, did remind me of some stuff seen in the early eighties. Could be a title of that era, but it isn't because it's all about the social media and what it could do. There are already a few flicks out about the social media about being unfriended and things go wrong, let this one be a revenge flick about doing pranks on social media and one of them gone wrong.

The way it was shot was really nice, doing effects like going through keyholes and windows with the camera so on that part it was okay. And the score did add towards the creepiness of this flick but of course it isn't all that good. It did remind me a lot of Saw somehow and it all predictable. You know towards the end who is going to kill who. In fact there are so many scene's that are predictable but still you want to see the ending. Even as you seen it in other home invasion flicks. Nothing is original but a big hurray to the director and writers. They did a good job because it didn't bothered me at all. Good entertainment and the red stuff is out there.

A nice flick to start off the Halloween night and it will do at many events.

Gore 0/5 Nudity 0/5 Effects 2,5/5 Story 2,5/5 Comedy 0/5

I did have low expectations going in after seeing the trailer thinking to myself "how many more times can they do this type of film?" However, it wasn't as bad as I expected. The plot twist at the end was refreshing, but I had trouble with the two main leads - I don't feel they were cast properly and belonged instead in some low budget comedy, not a thriller of this caliber. They were very unconvincing. Even the rest of the cast were nothing special. What was the most impressive was the directing, editing and cinematography - the latter of which I felt was too good for this type of film (i.e. camera zooms from keyhole). The pace was slow, but otherwise this film was not too shabby. It's a 6/10 form me

It is a kind of revenge slasher - from what i think ... similar to maybe "Saw". The bad guys are being punished. The problem with this kind of setup is that it is hard to feel bad for them. Granted, the collateral damage to innocents around them - and the severity of the punishment is arguably too much - but they are still a far cry from likable enough to care for them.

The reason for the revenge punishment is sooooo old, so predictable, so boooring. In my opinion - it might have been better if the guy stated that he was just a sadistic a**h**e, instead of the soppy origin flashback.

So in short - the story is very, VERY old, uninmaginative and HIGHLY predictable. In fact - i felt like i was able to predict a majority of scenes shortly before they happened - just based on previous movies that did it the same way.

The acting was average. A little overacting from the main protagonists - and all in all ... not very subtle.

Something that throws me out of any immersion - especially with movies set in our time - is when they use internet apps that are clearly meant to be a brand name, but cannot due to copyrights. So there is no google, no youtube etc. . For me... it could as well be ACME then - instead of some placeholder. (it is just a little thing, but it tend to bother me)

From a cinematography point of view. The camera works are not bad - but tend to display a little unnecessary CGI long-shots through windows and stuff. It feels like showing off - but at least it is not found footage.

My conclusion is a 3/10 - because the movie is not innovative, uncreative - and hence ... quite boring. There is NO suspense at all - none. And there is also no feeling of any kind of satisfaction.

Just got done watching it. Really liked it, nothing new but well done on old ideas. Kind of a cross between "I know what you did last summer" and "saw" with maybe a little "are you in the house alone" mixed in. High tension throughout, kept me interested and played out well. Lots of horror tropes that we all know and love (well some of us anyway) Looking at IMDb reviews and a lot of people didn't like it. But they're the same people who only like the artsier horror like Babadook or The Witch. Both good movies but sometimes you just want a good old fashioned slasher, something that doesn't make you think or try and figure it out. This is that movie.

Good production value, good use of lighting, sound etc. Acting was decent and even though the ideas were old I thought the way they were brought about was good. I give it an 8 of 10, good use of an hour and a half on a boring night.

PROS: This movie really captured the thriller aspect of the film. It was tense and dark and kept you on the edge of your seat. The mood set in the film described very well what the film would be about. The overarching tone was very dark and bone chilling. This sort of vibe led to a great build up in tension as the movie progressed. At the peak of the movie was when the acting was undeniably good, other than that the acting was shaky. To continue, the acting didn't take away from how smoothly the movie progressed. When you got to the resolution of the movie you were completely absorbed. Overall, DON'T HANG UP had great tension and a well executed finale 

CONS: The biggest and most overt problem was the inconsistencies in the plot. There were way to many loose ends and things that didn't add up. This takes away from the film because you end up spending a lot of time trying to put together the pieces of the movie, and they just wont fit. It felt seamless, but there were actually way to many hidden issues. During, but most importantly after, you really tried to comprehend how certain events took place, when you clearly couldn't. The final problem was the acting. These actors clearly weren't meant to be horror actors. Actors like GREGG SULKIN did an OK job, but most of the other actors in the movie weren't meant for this genre.

www.chorror.com

Well, luckily, I'm safe. I barely even answer a call when it's from anyone I know.

Not intentionally, mind you. 99.1% of the time the sound is off on my phone and I haven't had a landline since 9/11.

I digress. What was I here for? Oh, yeah, this crappy movie. Probably the 100th "Don't..." horror movie and it definitely rings true here.

Pretty boys, make that adults playing teens (both leads were in their later 20s and it shows) are stalked by some guy who's playing God with their electronic devices one rainy night. Why is this grown man stalking these "Teen Beat Bait?" Not for the reasons I just put into your mind.

These two are half of four disgusting "kids" who prank call people in horrific ways to get YouTube hits. Naturally. And now, the joke's on them!

That sounded more dramatic and original in my mind before I typed it. My apologizes. It's just as bad and unoriginal as this dull movie.

Immediately into this movie, any sensible human would hate these guys. Literally hate these guys and are happy this is a horror movie so they'll get the karma coming to them. Annnd, those are just two of the many flaws here. It's so incredibly predictable and you never like any of the characters.

Of course, they try to make one sympathetic, but he's just as bad or worse since he knows better. He's just a follower of his bad-news friends and says no to the bad ideas like a teen would say no to a social media post.

Everything's foreseen, the acting was laughable at best, the "villain" was so bland - such an opportunity to get a great voiceover and the ending tries to surprise you and might just do that...to the four people left that's never seen a movie before this one. The one nice thing I can say is: it wasn't badly shot. They were definitely competent in that one single category.

The rest you can skip. There are hundreds of more "home-invasion," "stalker" films out there that are 100x better than this trash.

***

Final thoughts: Please stop casting people close to 30 as your teens. It cannot be pulled off unless you CGI the hell out of them and if you plan that, just make the first Pixar Horror.

On second thought, I second that idea. THAT would be awesome!

Sam and Brady are part of a group of lads that annoys prank calling people, pranks that are next level, causing people great distress, one night though, they get a call, and the tables are turned.

The first thing to ponder, who's side are you on, generally in movies like this, you're rooting for the victim who's being tormented by the unknown prankster, whilst I have no actual reason for siding with him, I dislike the boys more.

It's an enjoyable psychological thriller, I can see elements of Scream, possible elements of Saw, I don't think it necessarily has the horror impact of those films, it's still an enjoyable thriller.

I don't think there's a massive mystery behind what's going on, and who's doing the taunting, but that doesn't detract, it really is an enjoyable 90 minutes.

Well acted and well made, it's a good looking film.

7/10.

id recommend this movie for the ending, some what predictable, and somewhat not, ultimately rewarding. i mean, its touching on something millennials are literally making profitable lifestyles out of... who hasn't binge watched prank videos on youtube for hours before. this movie depicts a watch worthy result of one gone too far.

Idk why people on here are bashing this movie. It is an amazing movie that had some creepy ass scenes. It didn't just rely on jump scares Though there is like 2, but had actual hair stand up on the back of your neck scenes.

I do agree that the characters weren't really in depth but then again this is a horror/slasher movie. It's hard to give characters such significant depth before they are axed off that it is to be expected to not have the greatest moments. Take You're Next. like 1/10 characters in that show had depth yet people rave how great it is.

Alos I just wanted to point out something since this movie is getting bashed for the technology you see and I feel like I need to set things straight. yes, the technology exists today that you see in this movie. My auntie can turn on her TV, turn off her lights, and even lock and unlock her doors with her phone. So people going "omfg it pisses me off how unrealistic this movie is" just haven't caught up to the times.

It's a creepy movie, characters died gory deaths, there was a few scares, I was happy with it.

Some friends do sick pranks on people like pretending to be the police on the phone, telling them their spouse died and then post their reactions to their sites. Not having any remorse, they continue pranking until a mysterious man calls them, turning the tide. Just desserts are served as he ups the ante by knowing everything about them. Having their parents tied to a chair, waiting to be killed, persuades them a bit. He continues to make their lives hell as they struggle to keep from hanging up the phone.

This one starts off with some cool camera shots and then the film just grabs you and doesn't let up much at all. If there was a tension meter this film would have it maxed out.

There are some predictable scenes and a minimal amount of violence but overall it still rocks. A decent budget and loads of jump scares keep you on your toes. Watch this one for sure and whatever you do Don't Hang Up! 6 pizza pranks out of 10.

Hopefully, anyone who watches this will be put off prank-calling for life. That's about all it's good for.

Entitled brats ruining social media, what's new. They are like cancer, having fun at the expense of others. I have seen a mother scaring her little child to near death just because of ratings and people seem to love that. Because of the hatred that I have for these kind of self-absorbed morons I give this movie a 7/10, when the movie itself is very mediocre and you can guess what happens next. But the story is so fitting to this time, that I have no other choice. The acting is decent and some of the camera work and effects are actually pretty smooth, so even when you ignore everything else, you can say that the movie is shot well. So this is in no means time wasted.