Compliance (2012) Reviews

• Research made me re-evaluate this film.

  Matt_Layden2013-02-09

  After receiving a phone call claiming that one of her employees has stolen money from a customer, manager Sandra takes Becky into the back room, interrogates her, strip searches her and humiliates her, all because the voice on the other end of the phone claims to be a police officer. This film had the same affect on me as the film Blindness did. Anger. I hated the characters, I hated what they were doing and I was yelling at the screen in disbelief. After the film was over, I had to search the incident and see just how much of this ridiculous tale was true. I was sure that once the girl was doing jumping jacks that the filmmakers took some creative liberties....boy was I wrong. The film, until the end, is truthful to the events that played out in real life. I can't fault the film for portraying what literally happened, no matter how inane the people and the requests were. I sat there thinking there is no way in hell that these people are that stupid that they wouldn't question the voice on the other end of the phone. I think the choice on the filmmakers part that really put me over the edge was having the so called police officer, talk down to them, calling them stupid and to shut up. How, at that point in time does nothing click for you is beyond me. Despite the film being small, confined and focused on one main topic, I felt glued to the screen with the stupidity of the characters and wondering how far will this guy take it. I felt sorry for Sandra, played very well by Ann Dowd, until she started back talking Becky. At that point my sadness for her stopped and my anger rose. Sure she was stupid for starting it, but you could tell she didn't want to. After she brought her husband into the picture, that went out the window. Competently directed, nothing visual that really stands out, the camera served the story. A young girl being mistreated in a small room. The acting, for the most part felt natural to me. The small things that the actors do reflect real life, awkward laughter at an odd request was something I caught from the husband. If a film gets me searching on the internet for more information, then bravo. If a film's goal was to infuriate me, mission accomplished. Compliance is a film that shows how stupid and gullible people can be. Stand up for yourself, use common sense and question authority.

• The fact that this is a true story is just insane

  zlid2013-01-01

  After watching this movie i just couldn't believe it was based on a true story. It boggled my mind that a group of people could be this stupid. In BIG disbelief i searched the net to see if this was really true or just loosely based on a true story. I found proof that it was totally true. Every aspect of the story was true. ABC even did a story about these events with interviews with the manager and the young girl. Also showing actual footage of the events. The movie is not bad. The characters to a good job. But you will spend more time with your mouth open in disbelief of whats happening then actually enjoying the movie. It really is disturbing.

• Unpleasant to watch but important

  rbsteury2012-08-03

  I saw this today at the Traverse City Film Festival. About 1/4 of the audience walked out before the film ended. I do not disagree that the movie is difficult to watch, but I think you can hardly review a movie where you walked out without seeing the entire film. This film makes an important and real point... that many of us will, when listening to what we assume to be an authority figure, do things which we know are wrong. It also has two characters who say in one way or another "No, I will not do this." Bravo for them and may each of us feel empowered to do the same, if not by our own ethical standards, then by viewing this movie and realizing how devastating the consequences can be. One would like to be able to say "No one could be so stupid" but the fact that this type of event (involving, reportedly, even more degrading assaultive behavior than portrayed in this film) has happened repeatedly in this country (over 70, according to the closing credits) shows that wish to be untrue. I hope every young person will view this film and be brave enough to refuse any authority figure who makes demands on them which seem to go beyond the bounds of the law and good sense. And don't ever talk to a law officer in detail without your attorney being present (and no, I am not a lawyer.)

• Zobel Will Make You Cringe

  benjkramer2012-09-10

  "Compliance" is a shockingly terrifying film. As I watched the events unfold on the screen, knowing that they were tightly based off a true story, I had difficulty maintaining my breathing. With a sinister visual style from the start, filled with tight macro shots and a simply greasy aura, as well as powerful performances from all of the cast members, most exceptionally Ann Dowd, "Compliance" transcends from its fast-food setting into something much darker, and much more haunting. The abuse of the young cashier is repulsive. "How could you do that?!" you will continually wonder, wishing the words would escape your head in the form of a scream. This film is frustrating, vexing, and equally engrossing, almost as if the story itself doesn't satisfy man's need for vicarious horror. "Compliance" forces me to question my fate in humanity and the limits of the 7 billion people with whom I share this Earth. Ultimately this film is a sickening narrative, a narrative I might as well wish I had never seen. Must you watch this? No. Is this a vital piece of cinema? No. Is "Compliance" paralyzing, appalling, thought provoking, and, most brutally, true? More than you could ever imagine.

• Thought-provoking and frustrating

  ehteditor2013-03-18

  If the screenwriters were to have written this script in a vacuum, I would have been throwing popcorn at the screen due to what I'd consider to be the most illogical, ludicrous and unbelievable character decisions/motivations seen committed to film in a very long time. Sadly, this was based on a true story, which makes me want to tear my hair out at the sheepish state of American society and how so many people could be so readily manipulated and to such destructive ends. I'm horrified by the actions of the manager, her complicit co-workers, the baffling sadism of her fiancé, and the toothless submission of the young girl to such a bizarre situation. I'm horrified because in reality these characters were the most average of Americans but with such weak minds and will. I'm also horrified that the culprit on the phone is such a disgusting sociopath who would go to such bizarre ends to anonymously harm innocent strangers. And I'm horrified that this was not an isolated event. These are your neighbors. I'm horrified that this "slice of life" in modern American culture is only a "slice", and that there's so much more mindlessness where this came from. I'm not the wisest of men, but I feel I can offer just a little sound advice for navigating this thing called life: Question authority, and always think for yourself.