There were plenty of movies at Sundance that could be labeled "controversial", but few caused quite the rift as Craig Zobel's incredible, twisted thriller, Compliance. It's a film that had people arguing in the streets afterwards, with some thinking it went too far and stretched the bounds of believability. The irony in those statements is that it was based on a true story.
Starring Dreama Walker, Ann Dowd, Pat Healy, and Bill Camp, the film takes place at a fast food restaurant where the manager receives a phone call purportedly from a police offer. The officer claims that Becky, one of the employees there, has stolen money from a customer and she must be detained there at all costs. The decision to do so begins a nightmarish spiral that shows just how far some people will go when told what to do. It's an interesting and disturbing look into the human mind, and a film that's best walked into relatively cold.
So it's a good thing that the trailer doesn't spoil any of the biggest twists, but in doing so we don't see much of the moral complexity that drives the story. Marketing this film is going to be tough, so word of mouth is going to be key. Compliance gets a limited run beginning August 17th. Check out the trailer below...
