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How entertaining? ★★★★☆
Thought provoking? ★★★☆☆ 22 March 2013
This article is a review of COMPLIANCE.
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“I’m going to need you to address me as sir,” Officer Daniels
It’s been five years since writer-director Craig Zobel debuted with scam artist flick GREAT WORLD OF SOUND. He brings along actor Pat Healy and delves further into ruthlessness. It might be argued that SOUND was a mumblecore critique of the American dream. For his sophomore work, Zobel reaches impressively towards director Michael Haneke in terms of cerebral sado-masochism. There is a sidestepping of cinema-meta though and a straight narrative unfolds.
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Utilising tight, claustrophobic compositions, the target is again of the uneducated, and the ability of people to suppress dubious decision-making. Almost devoid of respite, we witness the humiliation and violation of a young woman working in a fast food restaurant. The opening deftly sets up certain nuggets of info about the characters that will allow a metaphorical knife to be twisted deeper later on. A man claiming to be a policeman rings a branch of ChickenWich and claims that there has been a theft by an employee, Becky (Dreama Walker), of a customer’s money. There is no questioning of the legitimacy of the caller, and manager Sandra (Ann Dowd) proceeds to request Becky to be strip-searched. Becky has no idea of procedure, and neither it seems does Sandra, and reluctantly acquiesces, being convinced by this Officer Daniels that it’s in her best interests. What unfolds is the darkening, unsettling degradation of Becky. The co-opting of those around her in various degrees of complicity, and the isolation of the victim, make for a psychological drama bordering on the horror genre.
Not only is Zobel commenting on humanity’s flawed character traits and the reduction of the species to a food chain to be devoured by those mentally stronger, there is a fascinating dissection of the workplace. Rivalries and jealousies, and reputations and favourites, are put under a microscope. The talents of the creative teams showcase how even in 90 minutes, the hierarchies and politics of a business can be laid bare. What is so scary is the believability of the scenario. How many of the viewers are so desirous of seeking the approval of authority figures? A definite allegory for any system of power. Two films under his belt, the director should be noted for reminding audiences to constantly question, and not take the path of least resistance.
Inspired by 70 true stories, that number might be the most disturbing thing of all.
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