Compliance (2012)

100% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
75% want to see it
(110 ratings)

Synopsis: Based on astonishing true events, COMPLIANCE is the story of Sandra (Ann Dowd), an overworked manager at a fast food restaurant, who receives a call from a police officer accusing one of her employees, a teenage girl named Becky (Dreama Walker), of stealing from a customer. Taking the… More Synopsis: Based on astonishing true events, COMPLIANCE is the story of Sandra (Ann Dowd), an overworked manager at a fast food restaurant, who receives a call from a police officer accusing one of her employees, a teenage girl named Becky (Dreama Walker), of stealing from a customer. Taking the officer at his word, Sandra detains Becky, setting into motion a nightmarish scenario that quickly spirals out of control.

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Craig Zobel
Written By: Craig Zobel
Genres: Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Special Interest

In Theaters: Jun 20, 2012 Limited
Studio: Magnolia Pictures

Critic Reviews

Justin Chang, Variety
In taut, gripping and deeply disturbing fashion, writer-director Craig Zobel measures the depths to which rational individuals will sink to obey a self-anointed authority figure in Compliance.
Justin Lowe, Hollywood Reporter
Likely to spur discussions about workplace safety, employee rights and broader awareness of sexual predation, Compliance is also a suspenseful psychological drama for viewers prepared to tolerate its extremes.
Tim Grierson, Screen International
Psychologically astute and brilliantly executed, "Compliance" is a challenging film that cuts to the heart of difficult ethical questions about the nature of power.
John Gholson, Movies.com
Almost every frame of the film is squirmy, alerting every part of your brain that what you are seeing is just plain wrong.
Erik Childress, eFilmCritic.com
Craig Zobel fashions tough, challenging material in the guise of a dark comic thriller and those too willing to dismiss it or drum up unnecessary controversy are part of the problem and not the solution.
Edward Douglas, ComingSoon.net
As disturbing as it is, it's even moreso when you realize it's based on true events.
Nathan Rabin, AV Club
It's not just about some woefully misguided fast-food employees: it's about the scared, intimidated and unquestioning follower in all of us.
Noel Murray, AV Club
The cast here is so terrific that they turn a movie that takes place almost entirely in one dingy room into rich theater...
Todd Gilchrist, The Playlist
As a portrait of what people are willing to accept simply because other people are going along with it, "Compliance" is an almost endlessly fascinating study of human behavior, disturbingly unflattering as its conclusions may be.