People who say, "No one could possibly be this dumb" are missing the point of COMPLIANCE. We live in a world replete with Svengalis who mesmerize and influence others using glib tongues, intimidation, and fear. From high-end financial crimes a la Madoff, to phone threats from the "IRS," to lottery scams, to internet ransomware, this type of crime happens every single day, and often to people we would consider otherwise intelligent. The question is, "Why?" What within the human condition makes some of us vulnerable to this most insidious form of bullying? Exploitation is nothing new, and that's what this film explores.
Granted, by comparison to run-of-the-mill grifts, Compliance depicts a scam that pushes the bounds of extremity. It also depicts a scam that has succeeded in the real world numerous times, and blaming the victims downplays the very real danger that sociopaths and psychopaths who are genius manipulators pose to society.
And at the very bottom of this entire discussion is a little indie film that is so riveting and well acted, it will be over before you know it.
Recommendation: Watch to Strong Watch.
(December 2022 update: Netflix has just released a true crime documentary, DON'T PICK UP THE PHONE, that outlines just how strikingly true this film is to the actual events it depicts. I highly recommend it as a tandem watch with COMPLIANCE, also currently streaming.)
Granted, by comparison to run-of-the-mill grifts, Compliance depicts a scam that pushes the bounds of extremity. It also depicts a scam that has succeeded in the real world numerous times, and blaming the victims downplays the very real danger that sociopaths and psychopaths who are genius manipulators pose to society.
And at the very bottom of this entire discussion is a little indie film that is so riveting and well acted, it will be over before you know it.
Recommendation: Watch to Strong Watch.
(December 2022 update: Netflix has just released a true crime documentary, DON'T PICK UP THE PHONE, that outlines just how strikingly true this film is to the actual events it depicts. I highly recommend it as a tandem watch with COMPLIANCE, also currently streaming.)