Compliance is the scariest movie I've seen in a very long time. It's not a horror film but it has one element that always frightens me - stupidity. It is mind blowing how stupid some people can be. We are supposed to be the most intelligent species on Earth? If there is extraterrestrial life out there and they can see what we do each day they are laughing their asses off. But the thing that makes this movie frightening is that every single bit of it that you see on the screen actually happened.
The story is based on what happened in Mount Washington McDonald's- Louise Ogborn, counter worker, was strip-searched and sexually humiliated for nearly four hours after a caller convinced an assistant manager that he was a police officer investigating the theft of a purse from a customer. Acting on the caller's orders, the manager, Donna Summers, began a strip search of Ogborn, and later called Walter Nix, to whom she was engaged at the time, to come to the restaurant to watch Ogborn. A surveillance video showed Nix spanking Ogborn on her naked buttocks and forcing her to orally sodomize him -- acting, he said, on the orders of the caller.
Compliance changes the names but doesn't change the events - Becky (Dreama Walker), a fast food worker accused of stealing money from a customer. Manager Sandra (Ann Dowd) did not see the theft, and is not likely to believe Becky when she is on the phone with Officer Daniels (Pat Healy), who claims that he has the customer in his office describing Becky perfectly. Daniels asks Sandra to bring her to the back, and assist him over the phone with the search for the missing money since he, nor any other officer, is available to come to the store.
Had it not been based on real events I'd call this movie ridiculous. It's simply hard to believe someone could be this dumb - there were so many times during this movie I couldn't believe my eyes - if someone who says he is a police officer asks you to do a strip search on someone how the hell can you not guess it's a prank? And while I know the people aren't that bright and I could see this happening what follows is more appalling and shocking with every single minute.It helps a little that Dreama Walker's Becky after a certain point seems to be in the state of severe shock. The trouble is that even that doesn't explain some things she does and agrees to.
The film does a very good job at showing the events, never crossing the line of good taste and never crosses over to some sick exploitation flick. In fact, I think it's far more tasteful, elegant and dignified than the stupidity of actual people involved in this whole thing deserves. I kept watching this movie, fascinated and waiting for all of them - except for the abused girl - to get punished for what they are doing. The girl who was a victim in the situation didn't win my sympathy - I felt for her, but at times her actions were completely bizarre - I watched interview with the victim and she says she didn't run because she was scared to be humiliated - by running naked through the restaurant. So the logic here? She figured out it's better to get raped than run and scream for help? What the hell?
But still, comparing to the manager and her fiance she is all right. The most appalling fact about this whole event is that the manager sued and actually got money. She belongs in jail along with her scumbag of a fiance. It's her stupidity and her desire not to get into trouble that led to the anguish of this young girl and last I checked being an idiot is not a circumstance that instantly makes you innocent in the court of law. All she was convicted of was unlawful imprisonment and than she got money from McDonald's - million dollars to be exact. This is a woman who told under aged girl to strip, left her with her middle aged fiance, let in other coworkers go in and out of the room without being there to see what exactly was going on and let it go on for hours. And she got million dollars for it. What the hell was a matter with that jury?
She was so easy to manipulate and the disturbing thing is that she doesn't seem to grasp reality very well. At one point of the movie she walks in the room and clearly sees that before she entered the room Becky was naked, while her fiance was there doing God knows what. She pretends nothing happened. The interviewer asks her about that in the last scene of the movie and her lawyer cuts in, saying she can't answer that question. She smiles awkwardly and quickly changes the subject, engaging the interviewer in silly chit chat. It is obvious she knew what was going on but figured it will be easier for her to pretend and just go on, as if nothing happened.
The only reason for me feeling slight sympathy for her character was excellent and very nuanced work by Ann Dowd. She was fantastic in her role as frightened woman who at times clearly seemed to be enjoying the situation. Because that is what it must have been - no one is this stupid. We, the people, tend to like having the power over those who are weak, who are in compromising position. We like to use others, manipulate them and we like to take the advantage of them. And that is what she did at times, though there were also moments she showed genuine compassion towards Becky. Of course, none of those compassionate acts can redeem what she did.
Then we have her fiance who I thought was the weak link in the film - he goes from being genuinely surprised by "police officer's" requests to enjoying the situation and taking advantage of Becky. The guy playing him did a great job but I thought we should have seen a little bit more of the progression from reaction A to reaction B. Becky's character really fell apart here too - as I said I think every woman out there would much rather run naked than do what she did. The very disturbing thing is that the real girl said in the interview she followed the instructions because she was told by her parents to listen to her elders. This is just...I can't even comment on that one.
Who was guilty here? The caller obviously. The manager. The fiance. In real life McDonald's representatives were found guilty too - of negligence. Sure they should have informed their workers a bit better how to behave in a situation like this, but the movie clearly shows that some of the workers knew that what was going on was odd and bizarre. Can we really blame the corporation that one of the workers is a moron? Another thing that bothers me is this - yes, the girl was hurt. Yes, she should be compensated. Louise Ogborn got $6.1 million — including $5 million in punitive damage. This is ridiculous. That girl had the opportunity to run and should have known better. She was as stupid as the manager and had the tables been turn who knows if she wouldn't do something dumber than this. There are good honest people who work each day. They will never get $6.1. Ogborn got that for her stupidity and for other's person stupidity. There are so many repulsive and wrong aspects of this event I don't know which one of those is the worst one.
Compliance is a better movie than this story and the people involved in it deserve. Craig Zobel, the writer and director of the movie, took a ridiculous story and turned it into really good movie. the film is gripping, thrilling and very realistic despite what is happening on the screen. the chemistry between actors is fantastic and everyone is doing great with their parts. Add to that a memorable score and subtle and tasteful cinematography and you really have something here.While I don't think it's award worthy it definitely deserves to be seen - if only for being a warning sign.
PS: One thing that I found amusing - critics apparently disliked the fact that the girl in the movie was much more attractive than the real one. They said that the fact she spends so much time in the movie being naked is exploitative and that the film is making it look sexy. So let me get this straight - had the girl been plain it's all right. But the girl is pretty and bam! Exploitation? Give me a fucking break.
Compliance (2012, 90 min)
Plot: It's a busy day at a fast food restaurant when suddenly the manager - Sandra - gets a call from someone claiming to be a police officer who tells her one of the employees - Becky - stole money from a customer. Sandra follows the instructions of the caller, believing in everything he says which leads to humiliation of Becky. Based on true events.
Director:Craig Zobel
Writer: Craig Zobel
Stars: Ann Dowd, Dreama Walker and Pat Healy
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