The Guilty

It doesn't feel like the Americans added anything fresh to this remake. In fact, it seems to lack some logic in places. The concept does lend itself to a strong performance, and Jake Gyllenhaal definitely takes the spotlight, maybe a bit too egoistically. If you haven’t seen the original, it’s a decent minimalist thriller. Otherwise, it feels pretty unnecessary. (10/05/2021)

The new, American version of The Guilty is out, and since I don't remember and don't want to compare it to the old, Danish version, I'm rating the film separately. I have the feeling that the film sticks too close to the original, copying the plot, script and emotions and I don't want to over-rate something we've actually seen once before, but I can't help but simply enthusiastically state that this film has done well. A one man show by Jake Gyllenhaal, who steals all the glory, you will be digging their your into the seat because not only will you be emotionally wrung out, but at the same time you can see that Gyllenhaal is fully wrung out too and his comeback to the screen after a long time is fantastic, action-packed, thrilling and just plain damn good, even though I was terribly sceptical. The Yanks tend to ruin remakes of quality films, but this time it's the complete opposite and compared to the distant and bland original, this is solidly above average. (09/14/2021)

If you’re familiar with the Norwegian original and thus the whole plot, The Guilty won’t manage to thrill you. Rather, we can just enjoy the presence of Jake Gyllenhaal and compare the formalistic concept, which in this case is livened up with a communication centre’s large monitors displaying Californian wildfires. The intensity of the main character’s explosive mental state is surprising for a mainstream Netflix movie, as if Antoine Fuqua attempted to make up for the original film’s lack of rawness and authenticity. Gyllenhaal tries hard and everyone knows that he is capable, but the degree of focus on his character is almost superficially overwrought. We don’t know the character and his good human qualities enough to sympathise with him. (06/24/2024)

An intimate and such a well written film that it seemed to me almost like an adaptation of a very good radio play. I didn't see the original, so I was able to be (for an hour and a half) tense and wait to see what came out of it, because from the beginning something suspicious hung in the air in that strange night atmosphere. Jake Gyllenhaal is great and the point was successful - given that and the overall tone, I understand why the Americans needed to make (remake) this film and at this time. (10/03/2021)

If you're not familiar with the Danish original and were lured in by Jake, you'll probably enjoy this. For those familiar with the original film, it's a complete waste of time that, with complete (and totally irrelevant to the plot) exceptions, just dully copies the excellent original. Unfortunately, Jake Gyllenhaal overacts at times and falls far short of his highest acting qualities as in Prisoners or Zodiac. [55%] (11/22/2021)