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Drama thriller

The Guilty (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

The Guilty (2018) movie poster

The Guilty is a 2018 drama thriller directed by Director: and Gustav Möller, starring Jakob Cedergren as Asger Holm, Omar Shargawi and Jessica Dinnage. It runs 1 hour 25 minutes and earned $4.6 million worldwide. Critics gave it 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and 83 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.5/10.

IMDb rating
7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes
98%
worldwide gross
$4.6M
Echo Score
85
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The Guilty (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 25m (85 min)
Directors
Director: and Gustav Möller
Genres
Drama , Thriller , Crime
Original language
Danish
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Guilty About?

The premise of The Guilty without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

A police officer working at a call center experiences a shattering night when a distressed woman reports a possible kidnapping. Forced to rely on external resources and his own instincts, he investigates the unfolding situation, uncovering a complex web of clues and confronting potential corruption. Asger Holm’s troubled past also resurfaces, complicating his efforts to find the missing woman and unravel the truth before time runs out.

The Guilty Themes & Keywords

· 34 tags
  • kidnapping
  • emergency telephone call
  • police dispatcher
  • single location
  • police
  • real time
  • telephone call
  • single set production
  • one location
  • minimal cast
  • police vigilantism
  • race against time
+22 more
  • plot twist
  • suicide threat
  • guilt
  • murder
  • suicide
  • snake
  • ringing telephone
  • revelation
  • one day timespan
  • cell phone trace
  • cop on desk duty
  • male protagonist
  • guilt ridden
  • low budget film
  • dead child
  • mental illness
  • scandi noir crime
  • cop drama
  • bottle movie
  • death of child
  • two word title
  • feature film directorial debut
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Cast & crew

The Guilty Cast & Characters

Jakob Cedergren leads the cast as Asger Holm, with Omar Shargawi as Rashid and Jessica Dinnage as Iben. Directed by Director: and Gustav Möller; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Guilty

· 6 more
From the directors

More from Director: and Gustav Möller

More films directed by Director: and Gustav Möller, best-rated first: Searching, The Miseducation of Cameron Post and Sons.

Ratings

The Guilty Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Guilty 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and 83 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 85/100, strongest in art & craft (88) and weakest in rewatch factor (80).

85 /100

The Guilty Echo Score Breakdown

The Guilty delivers a consistently taut and gripping thriller experience driven by its focused execution and sustained tension. The film’s minimalist staging and precise pacing transform a series of phone calls into a nerve-shredding mystery that remains engaging from opening to resolution. Its reliance on sound design and a restrained visual palette amplifies suspense without relying on spectacle. Overall, the movie stands out for its ability to maintain momentum and leave a lasting emotional impact.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 88

    In terms of art and craft, The Guilty excels through its disciplined direction and deliberate visual choices. The narrow cinematography—often framing only the protagonist’s face—creates a claustrophobic atmosphere that heightens suspense. Production and editing work in concert to maintain rhythm, with seamless transitions between phone calls and flashback audio. Overall, the film’s restrained aesthetic and precise technical execution contribute substantially to its immersive tension.

  • Character & Emotion 82

    When it comes to character and emotion, Jakob Cedergren’s performance anchors the story with compelling nuance. His portrayal balances cynicism and empathy, conveying depth through subtle facial expressions and vocal inflection. Secondary characters emerge vividly through voice alone, creating an emotional connection despite their physical absence. In conclusion, the film achieves strong character resonance, even as a few moments lean toward overwrought pathos.

  • Story & Flow 80

    Regarding story and flow, the screenplay unfolds with deliberate pacing and real-time urgency. The plot’s twists are deployed at measured intervals, sustaining engagement as the mystery unravels. A few viewers noted darker, more passive sequences that momentarily slow momentum, but overall the narrative remains coherent and focused on the procedural puzzle. In summation, the story structure reliably maintains suspense while guiding the audience through its gradual revelations.

  • Sensory Experience 85

    In terms of sensory experience, the film’s sound design is a standout, with crisp audio transitions that shift you from distant sirens to whispered phone calls. The sparse soundtrack approach reinforces realism, though some viewers wished for more musical cues. Visually, the muted color palette and tight framing contribute to a unified style that supports the narrative’s intensity. Overall, the combination of audio precision and cohesive visuals creates an immersive environment.

  • Rewatch Factor 80

    Regarding rewatch factor, The Guilty offers strong replay value through its layered dialogue and concealed clues. Subsequent viewings reveal subtleties in performance and script that are easy to miss on first viewing. However, the film’s tight focus on a single setting may limit long-term novelty for some audiences. In summary, the movie sustains interest on repeat viewings, particularly for those who appreciate incremental discoveries in its intricate plotting.

Plot

The Guilty Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in The Guilty from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Police officer Asger Holm starts his shift at the police station, where he is assigned to telephone duty, a temporary role he looks forward to leaving behind. The day begins with calls coming in, and after resolving a drug-induced panic situation, Asger receives a report from a man who claims he has been robbed in a red light district. He connects with his boss, Bo, who finds humor in the man’s unfortunate situation involving a prostitute and promises to send patrols for assistance. When Asger inquires about Rashid’s wellbeing, Bo’s puzzlement suggests there may be more to the story.

Full summary

The whole story of The Guilty, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

The Guilty Box Office

The Guilty grossed $4.6 million worldwide. $207,140 came from the US and Canada and $4.4 million (95%) from the rest of the world.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$4.6M

US & Canada
$207.1K
International
$4.4M
US & Canada 5% Rest of the world 95%
Videos

The Guilty Trailers & Videos

4 videos: 1 trailer, 1 teaser, 1 clip and 1 featurette.

Trailer
  • Teaser UK 30" Spot
  • Clip
  • Featurette 'The Guilty' Q&A with Gustav Möller at NDNF18
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Guilty?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is Asger Holm's position at the police station?

Details

The Guilty Also Known As

30 alternative titles, including “Il colpevole” and “Thủ Phạm”.

Also known as
  • Il colpevole
  • Thủ Phạm
  • El Culpale
  • Culpable
  • El Culpable
  • THE GUILTY/ギルティ:2018
  • Виновный
  • Il colpevole - The Guilty
  • Den Skyldige
  • 더 길티
  • Tísňové volání
  • Suçlu
+18 more
  • Tiesňové volanie
  • Culpa
  • A bűnös
  • 罪人
  • Winni
  • Виновният
  • Ο Ένοχος
  • 厄夜追緝令
  • 來電追緝
  • האשמים
  • O Culpado
  • Винний
  • THE GUILTY/ギルティ
  • Kriv
  • Vinovatul
  • Kaltė
  • Tội Lỗi
  • Presumpte homicida

Seen The Guilty?

FAQ

The Guilty FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of The Guilty, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Guilty?

The Guilty runs 1 hour 25 minutes (85 minutes).

When was The Guilty released?

The Guilty was released on October 19, 2018.

Who directed The Guilty?

The Guilty was directed by Director: and Gustav Möller.

More films by Director:

Who is in the cast of The Guilty?

The Guilty stars Jakob Cedergren as Asger Holm, Omar Shargawi as Rashid and Jessica Dinnage as Iben, among 10 credited actors.

How much did The Guilty make at the box office?

The Guilty grossed $4.6 million worldwide ($207,140 domestic, $4.4 million international).

How is The Guilty rated?

The Guilty has 7.5/10 on IMDb, 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, 83 on Metacritic and 73% on TMDB.

Does The Guilty have a post-credit scene?

No. The Guilty has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is The Guilty in?

The original language of The Guilty is Danish.

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