In a remotely located, locked warehouse, somewhere on the low desert, perhaps in southern California or near there, several men gradually awaken, as if from a toxic slumber or coma, with nearly total amnesia for their identities and past events. It is obvious to all that they are imprisoned here. As they regain their wits (indicating that there is no permanent damage to their ability to form new memories), they find few if any clues to help them understand how they have gotten to this place and into this predicament, or how they are interconnected.
One man is wounded, has lost blood, and is shackled by one wrist to a steel banister. These guys do not for a second trust each other: everyone is suspicious that other members of this little band are perpetrators of the predicament in which they collectively find themselves.
Flashbacks slowly permit the viewer's construction of a context for comprehending the circumstances in which these men find themselves, but the brief glimpses we see of past events are not only ephemeral but often shadowy, and different images are seen by different characters, making the assemblage of a coherent picture nearly impossible for them, given the level of distrust among them, and, thus, a decided reticence to share information. Outsiders begin to call in on the telephone, but these contacts raise more questions than they answer. What's going on here? Who are the good guys, and the bad? And over what issues are they in conflict?.
This compelling whodunwhat drama dishes out bracingly realistic imagery and conjures circumstances that are plain scary. This is Sartre's "No Exit" redux, but with several more players, not to mention more menace. I can't say any more about the plot without being a spoilsport.
If you like suspense and paranoia-wracked proceedings (if, for example, you liked Darren Aronofsky's film "Pi," Soderbergh's "Kafka," the Nolan Brothers' "Memento," or Christian Bale's cadaveresque presence in "The Machinist"), you'll definitely enjoy this unsettling movie. The fine cast includes James Caviezel, Greg Kinnear, Joe Pantoliano, Barry Pepper, Jeremy Sisto and Peter Stormare. This is a successful directorial debut for Simon Brand. My grades: 7.5/10, B+ (Seen on 11/21/06).
One man is wounded, has lost blood, and is shackled by one wrist to a steel banister. These guys do not for a second trust each other: everyone is suspicious that other members of this little band are perpetrators of the predicament in which they collectively find themselves.
Flashbacks slowly permit the viewer's construction of a context for comprehending the circumstances in which these men find themselves, but the brief glimpses we see of past events are not only ephemeral but often shadowy, and different images are seen by different characters, making the assemblage of a coherent picture nearly impossible for them, given the level of distrust among them, and, thus, a decided reticence to share information. Outsiders begin to call in on the telephone, but these contacts raise more questions than they answer. What's going on here? Who are the good guys, and the bad? And over what issues are they in conflict?.
This compelling whodunwhat drama dishes out bracingly realistic imagery and conjures circumstances that are plain scary. This is Sartre's "No Exit" redux, but with several more players, not to mention more menace. I can't say any more about the plot without being a spoilsport.
If you like suspense and paranoia-wracked proceedings (if, for example, you liked Darren Aronofsky's film "Pi," Soderbergh's "Kafka," the Nolan Brothers' "Memento," or Christian Bale's cadaveresque presence in "The Machinist"), you'll definitely enjoy this unsettling movie. The fine cast includes James Caviezel, Greg Kinnear, Joe Pantoliano, Barry Pepper, Jeremy Sisto and Peter Stormare. This is a successful directorial debut for Simon Brand. My grades: 7.5/10, B+ (Seen on 11/21/06).