Don’t Hang Up Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Two obnoxious YouTube pranksters learn that their biggest, most dedicated subscriber is actually a tech-savvy psychopath who believes in literal phone-based karma and wants to play a very deadly game of ‘don’t hang up!’

🍿 Don’t Hang Up: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Infamous Pranksters

Best friends Sam Fuller, Brady Mannion, Jeff Mosley, and Roy operate a popular YouTube channel called “PrankMonkey69,” specializing in cruel prank phone calls. Their most recent viral hit involves terrifying Mrs. Kolbein by convincing her that intruders are in her home, leading to a tragic accident where she inadvertently causes harm to her daughter. While celebrating their success, Sam is home alone when Brady visits. They decide to continue their antics, engaging in more prank calls, including one on their neighbor Larry. This sets the stage for what they believe will be another evening of harmless, albeit cruel, fun.

A Call from Mr. Lee

Mid-prank, Sam and Brady receive an ominous phone call from a mysterious man who identifies himself only as Mr. Lee. He sternly instructs them not to hang up, revealing that he is aware of their prankster activities and is not amused. Initially dismissive, the boys quickly realize Mr. Lee possesses unsettling knowledge about their identities, addresses, and intimate details of their lives. The situation escalates when Peyton, Sam’s ex-girlfriend and a pizza delivery worker, arrives with an order they didn’t place, revealing that their friend Mosley has also disappeared. Mr. Lee begins sending disturbing texts and video footage, including proof that he is holding Brady’s parents hostage, showcasing his alarming control over their connected world.

The Game of Terror Begins

Mr. Lee takes full control, hijacking their cell phone lines to prevent calls to 911 and manipulating the house’s electrical power. The boys watch in horror as a video feed shows a masked Mr. Lee suffocating Roy to death. Sam then discovers Mosley similarly bound with a plastic bag at the back door; he dies shortly after being freed. The realization dawns on Sam and Brady that Mr. Lee is turning their own game against them, subjecting them to a night of escalating psychological torment and deadly traps, forcing them to confront the real-life consequences of their cruel pranks.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Sam Fuller (Gregg Sulkin): A carefree teenage prankster who finds himself and his friends targeted by a vengeful killer due to their cruel online videos.
• Brady Mannion (Garrett Clayton): Sam’s best friend and fellow prankster who, along with Sam, endures a night of terror when their past actions come back to haunt them.
• Mr. Lee (Parker Sawyers): The mysterious and technologically adept antagonist seeking deadly revenge against the pranksters for the tragedy they inflicted upon his family.
• Peyton Grey (Bella Dayne): Sam’s ex-girlfriend and a pizzeria worker who unwittingly becomes entangled in Mr. Lee’s deadly game of vengeance.
• Mrs. Kolbein (Sienna Guillory): The unsuspecting victim of the pranksters’ cruel phone call, whose tragic death of herself and her daughter fuels Mr. Lee’s revenge.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Mr. Lee: “Don’t hang up.” – The mysterious caller’s chilling initial command to Sam and Brady, which immediately establishes the premise of their night of terror.
• Mr. Lee: “He has to understand. He has to suffer, the same way that I have.” – Mr. Lee explains his vengeful motive, revealing the deep personal tragedy and pain caused by the pranksters’ actions.
• Brady: “This is gonna go viral!” – Brady’s enthusiastic exclamation early in the film, highlighting the pranksters’ primary motivation for their cruel online videos: seeking fame and ‘likes’.
• Sam: “The joke’s on us, isn’t it?” – Sam’s grim realization as he and Brady find themselves no longer the pranksters, but the terrified victims of a much darker game.

💰Box Office

• Budget: N/A
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: $332,571

💥 Don’t Hang Up Reviews

Personal Review

Honestly, ‘Don’t Hang Up’ totally got to me! I’m a huge fan of old-school slashers, and this felt like a modern nod to them, complete with the phone element. Yeah, the main characters are total jerks, which usually bothers me, but in this case, it just made Mr. Lee’s revenge so incredibly satisfying. The tension was constant, especially when he started messing with their house tech – that felt super creepy and grounded in today’s world. The twists, particularly that ending, really pulled the rug out from under me. I was genuinely on the edge of my seat, wondering how they’d possibly get out of it. It’s a solid, unsettling thriller for a rainy night, definitely worth a watch if you like your horror with a side of karma!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of ’90s slasher films like Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer”
  • “Viewers who enjoy revenge thrillers with a focus on psychological torment”
  • “Audiences interested in movies exploring the dark side of online pranking and social media consequences”
  • “Those looking for a straightforward, high-tension horror experience without deep character analysis”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Strong violence and gore”
  • “Disturbing images and themes”
  • “Mature language”
  • “Accidental death”
  • “Implied suicide”
  • “Teenage misconduct and cyberbullying”

Professional Reviews

• Film Buff Weekly: “Don’t Hang Up delivers a surprisingly polished visual experience for its budget, with dynamic camera work that keeps you engaged. While the premise of pranksters getting their comeuppance is viscerally satisfying, the story leans heavily on technological conveniences that strain credulity. It’s a fun enough ride if you turn off your brain, but don’t expect deep characters or a groundbreaking plot. A decent time-killer for slasher fans.
• Horror Central: “This film aims for a modern take on ’90s slasher tropes, generating genuine tension through its phone-based premise. However, its unlikable protagonists make it hard to root for anyone, and the plot often succumbs to predictability and overly convenient tech skills. While some will appreciate the straightforward horror, it ultimately feels derivative, lacking the depth or originality to truly stand out amidst its influences.

Audience Reactions

Many viewers loved seeing the obnoxious pranksters get their just desserts.: The film’s suspenseful atmosphere and surprisingly polished technical execution were frequently praised. The ending, despite some predictability, often left audiences shocked and discussing the twist.

Overall Consensus: A polarizing slasher for the digital age: while its unlikable leads and predictable elements drew criticism, many found the film’s relentless tension, modern tech horror, and satisfying, albeit dark, revenge plot to be highly entertaining, particularly for fans of ’90s-style thrillers.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Directors Damien Macé and Alexis Wajsbrot stated that they made ‘Don’t Hang Up’ as an homage to iconic 90s teen slasher movies, specifically citing Wes Craven’s ‘Scream’ (1996) and Jim Gillespie’s ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ (1997) as inspirations.”
• “The film employed dynamic cinematography, including impressive ‘through keyhole’ and ‘through window’ camera movements, which were highlighted by some viewers as a strong technical aspect.”

🖥️ How to Watch Don’t Hang Up?

Don’t Hang Up (2017) is a horror thriller that was released in the United States on February 10, 2017. While it may not be available on major subscription streaming services like Netflix or Hulu, it can typically be rented or purchased digitally on popular video-on-demand (VOD) platforms. Look for ‘Don’t Hang Up’ on services such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube Movies, and Vudu to rent or buy and enjoy this intense ride from home. Check your preferred platform for current availability and pricing, as options may vary.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Don’t Hang Up, you might like these similar films:

• Scream (1996): As explicitly stated by the directors, ‘Scream’ served as a direct inspiration for ‘Don’t Hang Up’, featuring a mysterious killer who terrorizes victims via phone calls and ‘rules’ for survival.
• Phone Booth (2002): Both films center around a phone call that traps the protagonist in a high-stakes, life-or-death situation, creating intense, confined suspense around verbal threats and manipulation.
• Saw (2004): Similar to ‘Don’t Hang Up’, ‘Saw’ features a villain who orchestrates elaborate ‘games’ or traps to punish individuals for their moral failings or past actions, often involving difficult choices.
• Unfriended (2014): This film explores the dangerous consequences of online actions and cyberbullying through a screen-life format, resonating with ‘Don’t Hang Up’s’ theme of digital pranks gone horribly wrong.
• I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997): Cited by the directors as another key inspiration, this 90s slasher features teenagers being targeted by a vengeful killer due to a past transgression, mirroring the karmic retribution in ‘Don’t Hang Up’.

🛒 Don’t Hang Up Related Products

• Don’t Hang Up (Blu-ray Collector’s Edition): Own the suspenseful horror film ‘Don’t Hang Up’ in stunning high definition. This collector’s edition includes exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, cast interviews, and a director’s commentary track, offering deeper insight into the film’s unique approach to modern horror. Perfect for physical media enthusiasts.
• PrankMonkey69 Official YouTube Channel T-Shirt: Show your ironic support (or subtle warning) with this high-quality cotton T-shirt featuring the infamous ‘PrankMonkey69’ YouTube channel logo from the movie. A conversation starter for horror fans.
• Deadly Dial-Up: An Interactive Horror Game: Immerse yourself in a narrative-driven horror game where your choices determine survival. Inspired by the ‘phone terror’ genre, this game puts you in a similar high-stakes situation where a mysterious caller dictates your every move. Available as a digital download.
• The Scream Franchise 5-Film Collection (Digital): Dive into the iconic horror franchise that ‘Don’t Hang Up’ pays homage to. This digital collection includes all five ‘Scream’ films, showcasing classic slasher tropes, meta-commentary, and phone-based terror that influenced a generation.

🎧 Soundtrack

Don’t Hang Up features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Main Title Theme” – performed by The Newton Brothers
• “The Prank Gone Wrong” – performed by The Newton Brothers
• “Mr. Lee’s Rules” – performed by The Newton Brothers
• “Unseen Terror” – performed by The Newton Brothers
• “Framed & Alone” – performed by The Newton Brothers

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Don’t Hang Up – Movie Review

Ever wonder what a professional critic thought about ‘Don’t Hang Up’? Chris Stuckmann’s review is super insightful, giving you a deep dive into the film’s hits and misses – I always find his takes really helpful for getting a well-rounded view!

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