Gregory Hoblit’s Frequency is one of the most underrated genre titles from 2000. It mixes heart and action with originality and is all brought to life by strong performances and solid direction. Feras Alfuqaha’s debut film, Lifeline, clearly takes inspiration from the sci-fi drama written by Toby Emmerich. But is there enough here to make this stand on its own, or is it just a pale imitation?
Written by Brady Morell and Brian Price, the film follows Steven (Josh Stewart), a suicide hotline responder working on New Year’s Eve. One of his first calls with a married woman, Mary (Katy Wright-Mead), ends abruptly when her husband comes back. Steven calls law enforcement officer Fredericks (Aisha Lomax), who, after a second phone call, goes to check on the woman. After a handful of calls, Steven receives an odd one that he thinks is a joke at first. The young man on the phone is also named Steven (Judah Lewis), goes to the same college the older Steven attended, and is dating a woman named Viv (Tu Morrow), which happens to be the same name as the phone operator’s college significant other turned wife (Charlene Amoia). Steven calls his teenage son, believing he’s the goof behind the prank, though the 14-year-old denies it. The younger Steven calls a second time, again vowing to kill himself by midnight. As the suicide hotline responder listens to what the college kid is saying, repressed memories of an abusive childhood and tragedy bubble to the surface.
I’ve been a fan of Stewart’s ever since his remarkable turn in the underrated horror film The Collector. Since the scream king is the only person on screen for some 90% of the 80-minute runtime, the actor must, by necessity, do most of the heavy lifting. Luckily, Stewart does not disappoint, striking a careful balance between dramatic, confused, hurt, and pensive. Lifeline could well be his best performance to date.
“As the suicide hotline responder listens to what the college kid is saying, repressed memories of an abusive childhood and tragedy bubble to the surface.”
That isn’t to say the supporting cast is terrible, as everyone delivers convincing portrayals. Lewis is very convincing as the young Steven, speaking in the same cadence as Stewart to further the illusion. Morrow and Amoia are gentle and sweet as versions of each other. Lomax’s voice is so powerful that her concern for the people Steven calls her about comes across as pure and hopeful. P.L. Brown plays the security guard Jerome and is absolutely terrific.
Alfuqaha directs with panache, knowing when to focus on his lead’s face to really sell the moment. He doles out the intense, dramatic themes of repression, abuse, and hope in spoonfuls, keeping aspects mysterious and unknowable, just as they are for Steven. Editors Dulcinee DeGuere and Nasos Gatzoulis tactfully keep the flashbacks short and sweet, allowing the mystery to remain until the last possible moment.
Lifeline is high-concept sci-fi, but it’s intensely dramatic and engagingly mysterious. The emotional beats ring true thanks to the intelligent screenplay and masterful editing. The cast is excellent, led by Josh Stewart, who turns in a career-defining performance. Frequency walked so Alfuqaha’s first film could run.
For more information, visit the official Lifeline site.
"…[Stewart] turns in a career-defining performance."
