The Chalk Line delivers a powerful story of longing and hope, combined with a harrowing scenario that could be ripped from the headlines.

This disturbing drama is strongly acted, pieced together well, and thrilling to the end. However, a few small issues keep The Chalk Line from being great.

The Chalk Line had promise but ultimately succumbs to an uneven script and an ending that plays it too safe.

The focus on vibes over storytelling starts to have diminishing returns once the plot starts having to explain the strangeness, and the thinly-developed characters are just not particularly persuasive.