**An Exhilarating Journey into Reality: *Night Call***

There’s a surprising pleasure in *Night Call*, an action-driven thriller set in Brussels that unravels over the span of one relentless night. What distinguishes this film is how authentic and plausible each moment appears. Dismiss the gravity-defying feats of superheroes, Force-wielding Jedis, or car thieves who seemingly mock the laws of physics. While those films possess their appeal, filmmaker Michiel Blanchart’s first feature is a streamlined, riveting thriller that intrigues precisely due to its unwavering realism.

The narrative, co-written by Blanchart and Gilles Marchand, kicks off in a straightforward manner. Mady Bala (Jonathan Feltre), a young locksmith, is simply going about his regular night shift. He answers a call, confirms ID, unlocks the door, and picks up his payment. Simple enough. That is, until a captivating brunette named Claire (Natacha Krief) involves him in a robbery. Suddenly, Mady’s ordinary life is turned upside down, and he finds himself on the run, pursued by a merciless gangster and his gang of skinhead thugs. To survive, Mady must navigate a night filled with escalating peril, where the stakes are life, death, and perhaps even a glimmer of redemption.

As the plot speeds through Brussels — from towering apartments to vibrant nightclubs, seedy brothels, and claustrophobic basements — Blanchart drags Mady through hell, and the audience is right there alongside him, unable to turn away.

### *Night Call*’s Violence Feels Unbearably Authentic

The film’s first encounter with action occurs in an apartment that Claire claims to own. Left alone, Mady inspects the area: a living room festooned with Nazi memorabilia and a massive stranger who has just noticed an intruder. Before Mady can explain himself, he’s assaulted. What follows is a desperate, chaotic struggle for survival. When the brute attempts to use a lit stovetop to burn Mady’s face, the young locksmith improvises. He shatters a plate, transforming its fragments into a makeshift knife, and manages a fortunate stab to the gut.

While this might seem like the deliberate actions of a seasoned action star, Feltre’s performance is anything but. His depiction of Mady is raw and exposed, his movements frantic and unrefined. He’s not a trained assassin or a spy — he’s just an everyday guy trying to survive the night. This genuineness makes the violence resonate more deeply, as every blow, stab, and cut feels agonizingly real. Even after defeating his assailant, Mady’s horror is evident as he gags at the sight of blood cascading from the man’s neck.

In this single, brutal scene, Blanchart establishes the film’s stakes and atmosphere. The specifics of the gangsters’ crimes remain ambiguous — they’re not the focus. What’s important is Mady’s immediate, visceral fight for survival. And it’s captivating to witness this unremarkable locksmith, bundled in a bulky jacket that conceals his slender build, confront the night ahead.

### Surprises, Turns, and Stellar Acting

Mady’s problems intensify when he’s captured by a menacing kingpin, portrayed with chilling intensity by French actor Romain Duris (*The Beat That My Heart Skipped*). The gangster doesn’t care that Mady was an unsuspecting accomplice in Claire’s heist. Instead, he hands Mady over to two henchmen assigned to retrieve the stolen goods. From this point, Mady’s ordeal transforms into a series of unpredictable twists as he strives to outsmart his captors and regain his freedom.

What renders *Night Call* so intriguing is its refusal to depend on tired action movie tropes. Mady isn’t a superhuman hero; he’s a genuine underdog who must rely on quick decision-making, blind fortune, and even the kindness of strangers — including a group of Black Lives Matter demonstrators — to stay alive. The film also defies expectations with Claire. While she first appears to be a classic femme fatale, the screenplay grants her depth and nuance, guiding the story into emotionally rich territory. The outcome is a climax that’s both exhilarating and unexpectedly moving, showing that *Night Call* can provide action and heart without compromising its gritty realism.

### A Cast That Shines in the Shadows

The ensemble of *Night Call* is nothing short of remarkable. Jonathan Feltre is captivating as Mady, delivering a performance that balances fragility and resolve. His dedication to the fight choreography is impressive, but it’s his interpretation of Mady’s wide-eyed shock and desperation that truly stands out.

Opposite him, Romain Duris is chilling as the snarling gangster, projecting a menacing presence that lingers in every scene. Jonas Bloquet is equally compelling as a young enforcer, while N