Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    EA Sports Madden NFL 26 Head Coach But Why Tho 5

    Dear EA Sports, Why Can’t I Make A Hot Coach?

    08/14/2025
    Blade in Marvel Rivals Season 3.5

    Blade Can Shut Down The Other Team In Marvel Rivals Season 3.5 If You Know How

    08/08/2025
    John Cena and Cody Rhodes during Summerslam 2025

    The SummerSlam 2025 Main Event Was A Fever Dream We All Needed

    08/08/2025
    Street Fighter 6 Sagat

    Sagat Brings Depth And Approachability To ‘Street Fighter 6’

    08/07/2025
    Battlefield 6 Classes - Support trailer image

    Battlefield 6 Really Wants You To Play Support (But Knows You Won’t)

    07/31/2025
  • Indie Games
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Apple TV+
But Why Tho?
Home » Film » REVIEW: ‘The Chalk Line’ Is a Striking Thriller

REVIEW: ‘The Chalk Line’ Is a Striking Thriller

Kate SánchezBy Kate Sánchez10/29/20223 Mins Read
The Chalk Line - But Why Tho
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

The Chalk Line - But Why Tho

Horror-thrillers need to be able to not just build suspense but to deliver on each build-up. Most of the time this means twisting its narrative in surprising ways or pushing your audience into situations that reward their mystery-solving skills. Netflix’s The Chalk Link (Jaula) manages to do this all perfectly.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

A Spanish film, The Chalk Line is directed by Ignacio Tatay, and written by Tatay and Isabel Peña. In the film, Paula (Elena Anaya) and her husband are coming back from dinner when they suddenly find a young girl, Clara (Eva Tennear), wandering around a dark road. She’s alone, disheveled, and frozen, even as an oncoming motorcycle hurtles towards her. Saving her and bringing her to the hospital, the two find themselves reunited with the girl two weeks later when no one claims her. With the means to take care of Clara, and Paula beginning to form a bond with her, the two decide to foster her and hope that she acclimates to life again.

Clearly traumatized, the young girl needs a lot of care. You see, she believes that if she steps out of the chalk line on the floor a monster will come out and punish her. As Paula learns to reach across the line and open the girl’s world with love and connection, she gets more curious about the young girl’s past. When she starts connecting dots and opening doors, Paula finds herself in danger when she begins to uncover the truth.

Centering a horror story or mystery around children is always an easy get. They’re innocent and immediately put the cast and characters into protective mode. Throw in elements of mistreatment and silence, and it’s easy to understand why a character would become so involved with uncovering the truth and in the case of The Chalk Line getting a semblance of justice. This film knows exactly how to manipulate the audience’s response to protect the girl at the center of the story. Clara is pale and small and fragile, but she is also scared and angry in equal measure. Her art and her responses to the world around her build tension as Paula tries her best to navigate it all.

Paula’s compassion to talk to Clara on the same level and with Clara’s existing rules allow the two to form a bond that speaks volumes in the film. The two love each other, and are pulled to each other, and it’s clear how the film’s final act (which is better left unspoiled) can take place.

Eva Tennear, the young actress who plays Clara is phenomenal, even in her quiet moments. Her appearance is haunting and the chemistry she builds with Paula feels genuine. She’s able to hold your attention when the camera is on her in a way that is rare for kids in films. Additionally, her silence allows the narrative to develop around her but she is never lost within it. Instead, she’s centered wonderfully.

Ultimately, The Chalk Line is a near-perfect thriller. While there are some inconsistencies, the way that Tatay is able to use light and still objects to bring a sense of foreboding in each scene helps ratchet up the tension especially as the mystery deepens. Finally, the violence and reveal of the film’s last act are so well crafted and paced that it was impossible to look away, even when it was uncomfortable. If you’re looking for a scary treat for the Halloween weekend, this works wonders.

The Chalk Link (Jaula)
  • 8.5/10
    Rating - 8.5/10
8.5/10

TL;DR

Ultimately, The Chalk Line is a near-perfect thriller. While there are some inconsistencies, the way that Tatay is able to use light and still objects to bring a sense of foreboding in each scene helps ratchet up the tension especially as the mystery deepens.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘Blue Lock,’ Episode 4 — “Premonition and Intuition”
Next Article REVIEW: ‘Interview With The Vampire,’ Episode 5 – “A Vile Hunger For Your Hammering Heart”
Kate Sánchez
  • Website
  • X (Twitter)
  • Instagram

Kate Sánchez is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of But Why Tho? A Geek Community. There, she coordinates film, television, anime, and manga coverage. Kate is also a freelance journalist writing features on video games, anime, and film. Her focus as a critic is championing animation and international films and television series for inclusion in awards cycles. Find her on Bluesky @ohmymithrandir.bsky.social

Related Posts

Madelyn Cline and KJ Apa in The Map That Leads to You
8.0

REVIEW: ‘The Map That Leads To You’ Is YA Romance Done Right

08/19/2025
Lurker promotional still from MUBI

REVIEW: ‘Lurker’ Probes The Intoxication Of Fame

08/19/2025
The Knife (2025) promotional still
7.0

REVIEW: ‘The Knife’ Is Simple And Too Much At The Same Time

08/17/2025
Still from Shin Godzilla
8.5

REVIEW: ‘Shin Godzilla’ Is More Relevant Than Ever

08/16/2025
Fixed promotional key art from Netflix Animation
6.0

REVIEW: ‘Fixed’ Is Top-Notch Animation But Bottom Of The Barrel Comedy

08/15/2025
Denzel Washington Highest 2 Lowest
7.0

REVIEW: ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ Has A Ton Of Fun Missing It’s Own Points

08/15/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
Still from Shin Godzilla
8.5
Film

REVIEW: ‘Shin Godzilla’ Is More Relevant Than Ever

By Sarah Musnicky08/16/2025Updated:08/17/2025

It is understandable how Shin Godzilla succeeded at the box office nearly a decade ago. The strength of its story still stands today.

Botanical Bliss Update Palia But Why Tho 5 News

Palia’s New Botanical Bliss Update Brings New Flora, Decorations, And Quest Mechanic

By Matt Donahue08/18/2025Updated:08/18/2025

The Botanical Bliss update adds new event, more plushes, and a host of quality-of-life improvements and more to celebrate 2 years of Palia.

BOOTS Netflix First Look promotional images News

First Look at Coming-of-Age Story BOOTS, Coming to Netflix This October

By But Why Tho?08/17/2025

Netflix is reporting for duty this fall with the new eight-episode series BOOTS, a comedic drama starring Miles Heizer and Vera Farmiga

Nuestra Magia Secret Lair Art Interviews

EXCLUSIVE: How The ‘Nuestra Magia’ Secret Lair Found Its Identity And Raised Over $1M

By Kate Sánchez08/15/2025Updated:08/15/2025

We spoke with Ovidio Cartagena about Magic: The Gathering’s Nuestra Magia Secret Lair drop, its impact, and the real treasure within.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here