EXAM (2009)

Written & Directred By: Stuart Hazeldine
Based on a story by: Simon Garrity
Cinematography By: Tim Wooster
Editor: Mark Talbot-Butler

Cast: Adar Beck, Nathalie Cox, Chuklwudi Iwuji, Luke Mably, Jimi Mistry, Colin Salmon


The film is about 8 applicants for a job that are rounded up into one room to take a test for employment. They have 80 minutes to complete the exam. Only when they turn over the test papers there are no questions. That is the jumping off point as the film shows how slowly each applicant is taken away for breaking a rule. It is one of those films where in a short amount of time, all these characters are at the end of their ropes and reveal their ture nature.

The only things that saves this film from being a pretentious disaster. Is the generally shocking third act. Up until then the film was rather badly acted by actors who seem talented. It just seemed that like us in the audience, We get to know their characters as the film goes along. it seemed like the actors were as well while filming. Sure they have the character types early but as the film goes along they are more defined.

Most of the film plays like the work of a filmmaker, who really thinks he is pulling the wool over our eyes. Like we have never seen anytthing like it before, but you have and frankly better done. The film has a slickness and gloss that makes it look pretty like a commercial. Which proves prophetic because by the end it proves to be empty. Like a group that is charmed by themsleves unfortunately the audience will not feel the same way.

It is a major disappointment as the film tries to set itself apart. (Which might have been because of it's budget) by being slick and polished and actually have a heart instead of constantly being cruel and cynical, but maybe with a stronger story to show all opf these characters at wit's end and not revealing things in a "by the way" manner.

I understand the reason for the characters to have equal footing when they enter the room. Giving them all a level playing field so the audience won't be tipped off early. The film paints itself into a corner, as we don't know why this job is so important. We don't know if this is modern society or futuristic society. They all go crazy in such a short amount of time. if it was set during this economic crisis that we are in it would be one thing. By the time everything is explained, yes it makes sense but it also feels like a bad detective novel where we have spent the boook putting clues together and a list of suspects. Only for near the end of the book a new character to pop up and ends up being the killer, we have been looking for the whole time. So anything we could have guessed or suspected has all been in vain, because we were never meant to solve it in the first place. Which gives a distinct feeling of being ripped off.

This movie isn't terrible, but as usual considering the potential the film had it is very disappointing.

GRADE: D