The Guilty
A demoted police officer assigned to a call dispatch desk is conflicted when he receives an emergency phone call from a kidnapped woman.
Audience Sentiment
Emily on the overpass
The middle drags
The film's biggest shift occurs around the 57-minute mark when the major twist reveals Emily as the perpetrator, transforming audience understanding and boosting engagement after a dragging middle section
The Guilty maintains solid momentum through its setup and twist revelation, anchored by Jake Gyllenhaal's commanding performance, but suffers from pacing issues in the middle act. Critics consistently praised Gyllenhaal's intensity while noting the film's drag between compelling story beats and an ending that overstays its welcome.
Full cast
Showing 20 of 26
Jake Gyllenhaal
Joe Baylor
Ethan Hawke
Sgt. Bill Miller (voice)
Riley Keough
Emily Lighton (voice)
Peter Sarsgaard
Henry Fisher (voice)
Christina Vidal Mitchell
Sgt. Denise Wade
Paul Dano
Matthew Fontenot (voice)
Eli Goree
Rick (voice)
Da'Vine Joy Randolph
CHP Dispatcher (voice)
David Castañeda
Tim Gerachi
Adrian Martinez
Manny
Christiana Montoya
Abby (voice)
Gillian Zinser
Jess Baylor (voice)
Aileen Burdock
LA Times Operator (voice)
Bill Burr
Nightclub Caller (voice)
Beau Knapp
Dru Nashe (voice)
Edi Patterson
Katherine Harbor (voice)
Marlene Forte
House on Fire Caller (voice)
Maurice Webster
Gary
Bret Eric Porter
Marion
Sal Lucio
CHP Officer
Crew
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