The Starling: Viewers Left Emotional Over Heartbreaking Phone Call Scene

Trigger warning: The following article contains discussion of baby loss and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Netflix viewers have been left in tears this week after watching heart-wrenching new film, The Starling. And one scene in particular has left fans particularly emotional.

The movie, starring Melissa McCarthy and Chris O'Dowd, focuses on married couple Jack and Lilly as they struggle to cope with the loss of their baby daughter, Katie, to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

After Katie dies, Jack moves into a residential hospital while Lilly stays at home. In the heart-wrenching scene, Jack calls Lilly, but doesn't speak.

You can watch the clip below:

The scene reveals a conversation between Jack and Lilly one year on from Jack being admitted to the clinic.

Lilly works at a supermarket and has been trying to hold their lives together, meanwhile driving two hours every week to visit her husband.

SIDS is the sudden, unexpected and unexplained death of an apparently healthy baby. The exact cause cause of SIDS, which is sometimes called 'cot death', is unknown.

In a previous scene, Jack rings Lilly - and again, doesn't speak - before hanging up the phone when Lilly mentioned Katie's name.

"You know you're not the only one in pain, right? Ever since Katie left us it's been... and then you did what you did... and it's not okay Jack. I've been holding down the fort for a year... and I haven't had five minutes to think about my own feelings," she tells him.

Netflix)

"When you get back, s**t's gonna' change, things are gonna' be said, tears are gonna' be shed and then we're going to move on and move up and we're going to find a different but even better life than we had.

"And you're going to say sorry to me, for trying to take you from me, you're going to say it every day for the rest of our lives."

And viewers were emotional over the scene, with many labelling it the saddest scene of the movie.

Netflix)

One viewer tweeted: "The Starling has me crying uncontrollably... grief is never an easy thing."

While another added: "Watched the Starling on Netflix last night… Recommend to anyone wanting to lose half their body weight in tears."

And a third said: "I have to say 'The Starling' is by far one of the movies to watch in 2021! An emotional roller-coaster ride."

If you're yet to watch The Starling you can find it on Netflix now.

You can find out more about SIDS on the NHS website. For help and support, contact The Lullaby Trust.

Topics: TV And Film

Lucy Devine

Lucy is a journalist working for Tyla. After graduating with a master's degree in journalism, she has worked in both print and online and is particularly interested in fashion, food, health and women's issues. Northerner, coffee addict, says hun a lot.

@lucedevine