The Guilty

Joe Baylor is a troubled, recently demoted police officer working the 911 desk when a frantic call from a kidnapped woman pulls him into a tense, voice-only crisis. Stuck inside the dispatch center with only phone lines, radio chatter, and a few colleagues to help, he tries to piece together clues and coordinate a rescue while his own past mistakes color every decision. The film keeps action offscreen and leans on urgent dialogue and sound to build suspense, as Joe wrestles with responsibility, limited information, and how far he'll go to fix what went wrong.

Released in 2021 and directed by Antoine Fuqua, this version adapts Gustav Möller’s 2018 Danish film, with a screenplay shaped by Nic Pizzolatto and collaborators. The project keeps the core single-location premise while shifting setting and character dynamics for an English-language audience.

Box office and theatrical details were limited, the movie arriving during a complicated release climate with select theater showings followed by wide streaming availability. Public attention centered more on its streaming reach and how that format affected audience access, rather than on big theatrical grosses.

Critics gave mixed to positive reviews, reflected in an average rating around 6.4 out of 10. Many reviewers singled out Jake Gyllenhaal’s intense, voice-driven turn as the film’s engine, while some felt the remake lost nuance from the original and relied too heavily on plot contrivances. The film prompts discussion about policing, accountability, and how authority figures respond under pressure.

The production stirred conversation because nearly all the drama happens offscreen, making sound design and vocal performances the main tools for tension. Comparisons to the Danish original fueled debates about what gets gained or lost in translation, and the film has been noted for showing how a minimal physical setting can still generate moral and emotional complexity.