Is the Guilty Based on a True Story? Know All Details Here
by Sona
Updated Apr 28, 2023
The Guilty
The Guilty, a crime thriller movie released in 2021, was directed and produced by Antoine Fuqua, and written by Nic Pizzolatto. The film is a remake of the 2018 Danish movie with the same title and features a star-studded cast, including Jake Gyllenhaal and Christina Vidal, and voiceovers by Ethan Hawke, Riley Keough, Eli Goree, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Paul Dano, and Peter Sarsgaard.
The Guilty premiered at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival on September 11 before being released in a limited capacity on September 24. It was later made available on Netflix on October 1. While the movie received favorable reviews from critics, who commended Gyllenhaal's acting skills, some felt that it was not as good as the original version.
Is The Guilty Based on a True Story?
The 2021 version of "The Guilty" is not based on a true story, but its predecessor, a Danish film released in 2018, was partially inspired by a real-life emergency call witnessed by director and co-writer Gustav Möller.
Möller studied the call to gain insight into the victim's experience and aimed to create a unique sound design that would allow viewers to interpret the situation for themselves. Möller also drew inspiration from the true-crime podcast "Serial" and films such as "Dog Day Afternoon" and "Taxi Driver" for the style of filming used in the Danish version.
Is The Guilty a Real Story?
Although The Guilty is based on a real 911 call of a woman who was kidnapped, the story itself is not entirely true. The characters in the movie, including Joe Baylor, the cop who admits to killing someone, are completely fictional.
Director Gustav Möller revealed that the 20-minute-long call from the woman, who spoke in code while sitting beside her kidnapper, inspired the film's concept. However, the character of Emily, played by Riley Keough, and her story in the movie are entirely fictional.
Therefore, while the real-life incident may have sparked the idea for the film, the actual story portrayed in The Guilty is not entirely based on reality.
What was the Guilty About?
The Guilty features Jake Gyllenhaal as Joe, a police detective who has been relegated to work as a 911 operator. One day, he receives a call from a distressed young woman named Emily (played by Riley Keough), who appears to have been kidnapped.
As the call progresses, Joe becomes aware that Emily is being held captive in a moving van, and he works with her to gather vital information that could help the authorities locate her. The film's storyline is filled with suspense as it gradually unravels details about Emily's predicament and Joe's history.
What was the Guilty Based on?
According to Gustav Möller, the director and co-writer of "Den Skyldige," his film was inspired by actual crime recordings. Möller was influenced by a real emergency call to 911 and the true-crime podcast "Serial" prior to creating the movie.
Although the characters and events portrayed in the film are fictional, both "Den Skyldige" and its remake, "The Guilty," draw on real elements from genuine criminal cases.
The Guilty Review
"The Guilty" is a thriller film directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jake Gyllenhaal. The movie is a remake of a 2018 Danish film of the same name, and it follows the story of a troubled police officer named Joe Baylor who, while working the night shift in a 911 emergency call center, receives a call from a distressed woman who has been abducted.
One of the most impressive aspects of the film is Gyllenhaal's performance. He is convincing as a man struggling with personal demons while trying to stay professional and handle a high-stress situation. The film takes place almost entirely in the call center, which adds to the sense of claustrophobia and tension.
The direction and editing of the film are also noteworthy. The camera work is intense, and the fast-paced editing adds to the urgency of the situation. The use of sound design is also effective in building tension and creating a sense of dread.
The Guilty Plot
Joe, a troubled LAPD officer, works the night shift at a 911 call center while awaiting a court hearing. He receives a call from a woman named Emily, who has been abducted. With the help of Emily's daughter, Abby, Joe tracks down her husband Henry and discovers that Emily is mentally ill and has hurt their baby.
Henry feels guilty about leaving Emily and fears what she may do. After a tense exchange, Emily attempts suicide but is saved by the police. Joe decides to plead guilty to manslaughter and asks his friend to tell the truth at his hearing.
The Guilty Trailer
Is the Guilty Based on a True Story - FAQs
The Guilty follows a demoted police officer named Joe Baylor, who works as a 911 dispatcher in a busy emergency call center. One night, he receives a call from a distressed woman who has been kidnapped, and he races against time to try to save her.
The 2021 version of The Guilty is not based on a true story, but its predecessor, a Danish film released in 2018, was partially inspired by a real-life emergency call witnessed by director and co-writer Gustav Möller.
The Guilty was directed by Antoine Fuqua, who is known for his work on movies like Training Day and The Magnificent Seven.
The Guilty is a thriller movie.
The runtime of The Guilty is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.