Netflix’s The Guilty is a sleek adaptation of the acclaimed 2018 Danish thriller Den Skyldige, trading in some of the original’s stark minimalism for a dose of Hollywood polish. Directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, this tight, high-stakes drama unfolds almost entirely in one location: a 911 dispatch center, where a single call sets off a psychological and moral spiral.
A familiar premise, sharpened by performance
The story follows LAPD officer Joe Baylor (Gyllenhaal), temporarily assigned to 911 duty while under investigation for an incident on the job. Joe is volatile, sleep-deprived, and clearly unravelling, and his demotion only fuels his simmering resentment. Then, he receives a cryptic call from a woman who pretends to be speaking to her child, when in fact, she’s been abducted.
What follows is a tense and claustrophobic ride as Joe tries to figure out what’s behind his headset. Gyllenhaal delivers a commanding performance, oscillating between professional instincts and personal demons. His frustration builds as he grows obsessed with saving this stranger, projecting his need for redemption onto the situation.
A character on the edge, and a story full of turns
Joe’s own troubled past, his broken marriage, the media scrutiny, and the unresolved guilt, mirrors the chaos of the emergency he’s trying to manage. Wildfires raging outside add to the apocalyptic sense of pressure. And as the night wears on, the lines blur: is he solving the case or trying to save himself?
Though the film leans heavily on Gyllenhaal’s face and voice to drive the tension, the format does strain at times. The drama relies on emotional intensity and a few major twists instead of conventional action scenes. Occasionally, the film demands more explosive acting than the scenario can support.
Final thoughts
Despite the limitations of the format, The Guilty is an engrossing character study disguised as a thriller. It explores guilt, control, and the illusion of redemption, with Gyllenhaal turning in a performance that’s as much confessional as it is compelling. The film unfolds gradually, but it’s a journey worth persevering through.
