The Desperate Hour

In a small Canadian town, a mother leaves the house and sets off on a jog while music from her smartphone plays in her ear. On the way, she is passed by several police cars. As she enters the middle of the woods, she receives a call and learns that there has been a mass shooting at her son's school. Desperate, she tries to call a cab so she can get to the scene and check on her son. This thriller by the master of suspense Phillip Noyce depicts events entirely from the mother's perspective. It has several false leads and other twists in store as the plot unfolds, with the cell phone serving as a dramaturgical catalyst. Lead actress Naomi Watts, who also served as the film’s producer, carries the film with a veritable tour de force of acting from the first minute to the last. (Zurich Film Festival)