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Crisis Hotline (aka Shadows In Mind)

By Golu
This film has an interesting story, something different and new that at least I haven't seen before, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it's good. The film has its pros and cons which we will talk about later in this post. The idea, I suppose, is that in today's time, when most people make friends or partners online, what could happen, if someone has an ulterior motive behind befriending you.

Simon is new to the LGBT crisis hotline and is already cynical in a week because most calls he receives are not really crisis but more about whining. That changes one night when Danny calls him who is taking pills to kill himself and later we find out that potentially kill three other people. Simon needs to keep Danny talking so he can help him. Danny tells him how he is an IT professional who moved to Silicon valley. He meets Kyle through an app and romance soon blossoms. Curious to know how he lives so well in such an expensive neighborhood, Kyle tells him that he works only for one employer who pay him well. When Kyle introduces Danny to his employers, he soon finds out that they actually make porn for a living. They cater to a very specific set of clients who pay them well which explains their rich lifestyle. After a couple of meetings they even offer Danny for a porn film, which of course he refuses. Eventually, one night Kyle gets Danny drunk and drugged and him along with the gay couple in presence of their older financier guy make a porn film of him, which Danny finds out. The simple guy in him cannot take this abuse and eventually he does end up killing himself, while Simon and his co-worker can barely help.

Having a suicidal crisis hotline for LGBT members is very important in today's time. I really salute and appreciate the work they do, but I have many issues with this film. Starting with why does every character talk sooooooooo slow. It's like someone is telling you a bedtime story to make you fall asleep. It takes forever for Danny to come to the point. I understand that Danny was a small town boy, uncomfortable with open sex and porn etc., but why would the gay power couple be so desperate to cast him in a porn movie and pay him. I mean, in todays time, as per the statistics, there are more than enough men, who happen to be really good looking, very open to the idea of doping all kinds of porn. I believe the supply in porn industry is over saturated; so why would such a successful business dup be so desperate to sort of lure a gay young man to get into porn. Call it whatever, but this question constantly kept haunting me and unfortunately i kept judging the film based on this fact, because it just didn't make sense to me. The makers have tried to build and create suspense but it never reaches a peak. The idea of a hotline and people who work in hotline would have made a very interesting story but the subject they choose to show as the caller and the background, left a lot to be desired. The actors thankfully act alright and do a decent job given what their characters demand of them but neither of them leaves any special impact on you. The story and the screenplay is the biggest culprit in this situation. Oh btw: the very first sex scene between Kyle and Danny is also so weird, I have never been bored watching someone having sex.

I think this film is a decent idea gone wrong when properly developed in a full fledged script. Its not horrible but strictly below average for my tastes. (4/10)
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