A group of strangers awaken to find themselves trapped in large, windowless room with a sinister countdown clock that fires a laser at one person in the room every couple of minutes.
This last-man-standing film does not really have a main character. Instead, there are 50. Most are stereotypes; the evil conservative wearing a dress shirt, tie and suspenders; the admirable soldier; the bitter cop; the equally angry gang-banger. The list goes on and on.
The actors competently carry a fairly week script. Most of the dialogue appears to send a message about open and hidden social prejudices. It falls flat by failing to offer anything new.
The visual effects are solid. There is a claustrophobic atmosphere that helps to enhance some of the tension.
‘The Circle’ tries to take a unique approach to a familiar “strangers forced to kill each other to survive” formula but it might have worked better as a theatrical play. It just does not have the right material to carry a feature-length film.
USA-2015
Note: This film is not connected to the 2017 film of the same name starring Tom Hanks. and Emma Watson.
House on Haunted Hill?
LikeLike