We have to work the same way, but not kill, and deny premium.
Before the main part of the review is a bit to pay attention to the creators of the film and my expectations from him. Greg McLean, the film Director, born in Australia, to “Experiment…” scored a strong duologue slashers/torture porn’s “pitfall” that spawned a cult which colorful zodiac killers can be invented not only in the United States. Between the two parts of the “Pit” was a good zoo-horror film “Rogue”(Rogue, Vagabond), which we call “Crocodile”. “Experiment “Office”, which in the original is called “Experiment Belko”, at the moment is his last work. Screenwriter of a tape made of James Gunn, who started with the films Scooby Doo and productions Troma. Though he is gone now expensive blockbusters (dilogy “Guardians of the Galaxy” that’s his job), yet managed to score two major works in the horror genre. He wrote the screenplay for the remake of “dawn of the dead”, which is my favorite zombie film, and directed an ironic body horror “Creep”, which brought me a lot of positive emotions at the time.
So, when I learned that these people will do the “Experiment “Office”, and then watched the trailer, I felt a wave of doubt. They both know their business, but the approach they have different (hard and realistic at McLean and cheerful and ironic at Gunn), and how their views will be combined, I was not very clear. In addition, the trailer didn’t show anything special: no outright massacre, nor any other striking moments, and the idea of the ruthless social experiment is not new. Due to all these factors, much I from the “Experiment…” not expecting, however after watching my opinion though not dramatically, but changed.
Let’s start with the story part. Almost all the characters in the movie work for some Corporation belco and are located in the office building of the enterprise somewhere in South America. The working day began typically, however, at the entrance there was a guard that alerted some of the workers including the main character. But in General, this event did not attach much importance. But then all the entrances and exits were blocked with metal plates. And then on the loudspeaker someone say that you need to kill any two employees of the company, otherwise will be killed more than two. The instruction is not executed, and the heads of several poor fellows have smeared on the walls. The action is more intense and bloody turn…
As already mentioned, the idea is not new. Something similar happened in the “Royal rumble”, which I have not yet watched. Idea about choosing “you or you” just was well implemented in “Saw”, “To do” and some other films, but despite this the relations of people in a desperate situation will be interesting after 10, 100 and 1000 movies, as long as there is creativity and innovative approaches. And, unfortunately, this is the biggest disadvantage of the “Experiment…”. It is unoriginal. The plot is standard, and at some point it becomes predictable, especially the climax and the ending is easily guessed. The characters in the film are also typical, the main character we have the right guy who rejects the thoughts of murder. He has a girlfriend who loves him, though doubts his ideas, there is also a cute fat boy, who in tense moments can point a gun, and a cold-blooded scoundrel that cares about its survival and the collecting of the same negative characters, and brute bully personal account, and indecisive guy, which is adjacent to the villains because of something else he did not have enough eggs. All of the characters we saw, but they played with other actors. Moreover, any apparent motive for their actions except for the guy with personal complaints about the hero and his girlfriend there. The hero is good, because a good villain is bad, because “we need family to save.” Trite and superficial.
The second big disadvantage is uncertainty. It is usually said that everywhere need the “Golden mean”, but specifically in this case, the extreme was necessary. Serious psychological picture of the “Experiment…” is not, it is too superficial. Lacking any flashback scenes, study of characters, detail their personality. Even when the villain pushes a cart about the family – why not show us this family, or at least a photo of her that we understand why the character wants to return to it?.. A splatter film or tercera is not the blood begins to flow only toward the end of the film, and not much killing relish. Black Comedy is also not the channel – at least there’s a couple of funny, serious Comedy component is missing, not enough jokes and gags. It turns out that the film is somewhere in between – it has the patina of psychological Thriller, and a bit of cheerful slaughter, and empathetic humor, and everything seems to be organic, but the medium that even is insulting. And since the script written by James Gunn, I blame it in that. And his “dawn of the dead” on the part of the characters was two heads taller, even though he was talking about the other.
Well, okay, that’s enough to blame the film, because I liked it. Yeah, frankly I liked it, even despite these two significant disadvantages, because the rest of the “Experiment “Office” is pretty good.
Despite a shallow job with the characters, I liked them and I wanted to see what will happen next (even though I knew what would happen in the end). Maybe it’s just because of their simplicity, but mostly due to good casting. I would like to thank all guys who played secondary role and the actors playing the main characters, but especially the duet of the two villains. Tony Goldwyn looks great in the role of Barry Norris, the main antagonist. His face grim and serious look true sometimes make you nervous. More emotional and wild Wendell is as good performed by John McGinley, though the character is pretty vile and causes resentment.
For the benefit of the story goes and the timing – just an hour and a half. The film begins quickly, and of the events it is enough that the spectator was bored. “Experiment…” is flying fast, and even if you do not like lengthy movies will not find it. Some moments even though the predictability is quite tense, due to production (thanks McLean). Well, if you still feel the local characters, the sight will not let you go throughout the viewing.
From a technical point of view, the film is normal. Camera work is good, special tricks does not spoil, but not annoying, and shows all with the right angle. The scenery is good, call them unnatural will not work. It is difficult, of course, surprise metal sheets and office space, but more of a film about the office and don’t need. Dismemberment is small, but the fault again to nothing. There is even an openly praise the explosions of heads, though not up to “Scanners” Cronenberg, but still juicy. There are moments of fire that look natural, surely the flames were real (CGI is not seen).
Pleased moments with music. Usually plays something electronic-tense, but there are inserts with good pop songs, very pleased in this respect, the re-recording of “I will survive”, it is a pity that it is not where we would like.
Let’s summarize all the pros and cons of the work:
– No specific directions, superficially for drama, clean grinder, not enough jokes for a Comedy;
– The characters are superficial and archetypical;
– The plot is predictable;
+ The idea is always relevant and never get old;
+ The narrative is rich and loose;
+ Thanks to the directing in the film there are a couple of great scenes;
+ Characters played by good actors;
+ Cheap but cheerful: the technical component is not to undermine;
+ Sometimes the soundtrack is different in a good way.
“Experiment “Office” is not a masterpiece, but you can watch it. Despite the flaws, this movie is good entertainment for the evening, which you can share with people who are not very familiar with horror and thrillers, and alone, actors and dynamics will not give you much bored.
7/10.
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