Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 89% (Critics) / 66% (Audience)
Directed By: Craig Zobel
Written By: Craig Zobel
Starring: Ann Dowd, Dreama Walker, Pat Healy
Studio: Magnolia Pictures

Synopsis: Becky and Sandra aren’t the best of friends. Sandra is a middle-aged manager at a fast-food restaurant; Becky is a teenaged counter girl who really needs the job. One stressful day (too many customers and too little bacon), a police officer calls, accusing Becky of stealing money from a customer’s purse, which she vehemently denies. Sandra, overwhelmed by her managerial responsibilities, complies with the officer’s orders to detain Becky. This choice begins a nightmare that tragically blurs the lines between expedience and prudence, legality and reason.
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The Good:
The gusto with which writer/director Craig Zobel insists on making this uncomfortable subject matter be so unflinchingly squirm inducing is to be commended. All issues with suspension of disbelief aside, I was both riveted and uncomfortable throughout the majority of this film.
And Pat Healey pulled off insane levels of creepy while basically acting with just himself.

The Bad:
Some of the performances did not meet the levels of Healey’s though. This was especially true of the staff at the fast food joint. I wanted to think that slackjawed disinterest was what the performers were going for but over the course of the film I began to realize that they were just bad actors.

The Ugly:
It frightens me that people this stupid are handling my value meals.

Final Verdict: While the premise struck me as far fetched despite being based on true events, Compliance is a really compelling viewing experience that holds your attention at the same time that it makes you want to turn away from the things happening onscreen.

Rating: B