This Colin Farrell Forgotten Gem Is the Hitchcock Thriller That Never Happened

Joel Schumacher's 2002 movie remains a benchmark for suspense, offering a tense and claustrophobic experience with flawless acting. Yet it was conceived by a different director entirely: the king of suspense himself, Alfred Hitchcock.

One phone call can change everything or end a life – the main character of Phone Booth finds himself trapped in an apparently inescapable situation.

What Is 'Phone Booth' About?

Stu Shepard is a cynical and selfish ad executive who is accustomed to lying to his wife, clients, and himself. To cover his tracks, he uses public payphones so his wife won't see calls to his mistress on her phone bill.

One day, Stu enters a payphone booth in the middle of Manhattan and hears an incoming call. He picks up the phone and realizes that a stranger on the other end is aiming a sniper rifle at him.

If he hangs up or tries to leave, he's dead. If anyone gets too close, passersby will die. A maniac hiding in a building window begins a psychological game in which Stu has no room for mistake.

Alfred Hitchcock Was Originally Supposed to Direct 'Phone Booth'

The story of Phone Booth began long before Joel Schumacher picked up a camera. In the 1960s, director Larry Cohen pitched Alfred Hitchcock the idea for a claustrophobic thriller set entirely in a phone booth.

It was perfect material for the master of suspense, but the movie was never made. The idea languished in the archives for decades until it was rediscovered in the early 2000s.

Schumacher, known for Flatliners and Batman Forever, decided to bring the concept to fruition, executing it brilliantly. Phone Booth is pure, concentrated suspense in the best Hitchcock tradition, with minimal set pieces and maximum psychological pressure.

Stuart Shepard in 'Phone Booth' Is One of the Strongest Roles in Colin Farrell's Filmography

Phone Booth marks Colin Farrell's second collaboration with Joel Schumacher, following the war drama Tigerland. While he was part of an ensemble cast in the former, here the actor delivers a nearly theatrical one-man show.

Farrell spends nearly the entire film in the confined space of the booth, communicating with an unseen interlocutor and reacting to events outside the booth. The actor conveys a full range of emotions, from brazen irritation and attempts at menace to animal fear, resignation, and unexpected purity.

Viewers move from contempt for the main character to sympathy as the sniper methodically strips him of all his lies and half-truths, forcing him to search within himself for what he's been hiding for so long.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Phone Booth'?

• Phone Booth has 72% from critics and 64% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.1/10.

• On Letterboxd, Phone Booth scored 3.3/5.0.

Where to Watch 'Phone Booth'?

Phone Booth is available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime Video.