Exam (2008)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Unknown H

  
  This story has been told a million times and with a frustrating back plot that is only hinted at I was left feeling exasperated by the time the not completley unintelligent conclusion finally came. I would say that this movie is definitely going to cut people straight down the middle… More
  This story has been told a million times and with a frustrating back plot that is only hinted at I was left feeling exasperated by the time the not completley unintelligent conclusion finally came. I would say that this movie is definitely going to cut people straight down the middle and was nowhere near the worse movie I have ever seen, but I don't think I will be watching it again. Disappointing.

• Film C

  
  This is quite a good psychological thriller, its suspenseful and although it is simply based entirely in a room it is still entertaining and you are gripped to your sit with wonder about what is going to happen! I like the building up to the different characters and seeing them… More
  This is quite a good psychological thriller, its suspenseful and although it is simply based entirely in a room it is still entertaining and you are gripped to your sit with wonder about what is going to happen! I like the building up to the different characters and seeing them develop! An interesting enough movie thats worth a watch!

• J P

  
  Pretty good movie, but not the best. The script wasn't nearly as impressive as it should have been, especially since there wasn't much else going on. The acting was pretty good, and that kept my interest. The plot was interesting, but I was kind of let down by the ending.… More
  Pretty good movie, but not the best. The script wasn't nearly as impressive as it should have been, especially since there wasn't much else going on. The acting was pretty good, and that kept my interest. The plot was interesting, but I was kind of let down by the ending. It was all pretty much straight forward; there weren't any unexpected twists or turns. It was an okay movie. I probably wouldn't watch this again just because it's not really as exciting/thrilling as it seemed at first. I don't regret watching it though.

• Drew S

  
  Not too shabby; a tight little mystery. The lack of game-changing plot twists or explosive ending will probably rub most viewers the wrong way, but if you go in expecting a cinematic riddle with a tinge of sci-fi and a few clever curveballs, your hour and a half will not be spent in… More
  Not too shabby; a tight little mystery. The lack of game-changing plot twists or explosive ending will probably rub most viewers the wrong way, but if you go in expecting a cinematic riddle with a tinge of sci-fi and a few clever curveballs, your hour and a half will not be spent in vain. The character work is cartoonish and unmemorable, and none of the acting rises past serviceable, with at least one performance that's baffling. It's a definite thorn in Exam's side, considering a large part of the film's tension is generated through the old "desperate people do ridiculous things" chestnut, but it's difficult to really get into such a thin cast of personalities. They become less human and more like playing pieces steering the script from beat to beat, which for the ultimate purposes of the film is fine, but I can't help but imagine how much better it would be if the human element was sharper.

• Dr Blood  

  
  Starring nobody you've ever heard of outside of the UK (including a lot of TV actors from things like "Eastenders", "Holby City" and "Doctor Who"), "Exam" was an obviously low-budget, almost "Twilight Zone" sci-fi drama with a… More
  Starring nobody you've ever heard of outside of the UK (including a lot of TV actors from things like "Eastenders", "Holby City" and "Doctor Who"), "Exam" was an obviously low-budget, almost "Twilight Zone" sci-fi drama with a "Ten Little Indians" feel to it. I was immediately reminded of "Lifeboat", "Lifepod" and the "Cube" films and, due to the presence of Colin Salmon, "Resident Evil" too. As soon as I saw him, I remembered a "Doctor Who" episode that I'd seen him in recently and I knew that I was in for something good. It's funny how one actor can make that much of a difference even if, in this case, he wasn't actually on screen for very long. I was also quite impressed with how the various characters were shown getting dressed during the opening credits sequence. It was intimate, emotive and it very effectively added more exposition than any dialogue could ever do. I remembered just how it felt to get ready for examinations I have taken myself, the nerves involved, the anxiety, and how I wouldn't even be able to sleep properly the night before. I think this all added a lot to how I was willingly able to suspend my disbelief about the extremes these characters would go to later on. One thing I don't like about watching movies on my laptop is that when they are filmed with so many extreme "warts and all" close-ups, I start to judge people by their skin pores, teeth, and any blemishes I see before they even begin to act. There were four absolutely beautiful girls in this but because of the camerawork, I found myself completely unattracted to any of them. The same thing happened to me during the kissing scene in "Jennifer's Body" as pimply faced Megan Fox made me feel a little bit queasy. I'd be interested to know if anyone else notices things like this. Anyway, to cut a not so long story short, the whole thing is about a group of very different people all stuck together in one room trying to work out how to pass an exam to get a top job. If you imagine the worst people possible from "Big Brother" doing one of their weekly tasks then you get the idea. There are clever ones, nasty ones, natural leaders and followers, but all of them want to win at any cost. Keep that in mind when you pick your favourites at the beginning and be prepared for a few surprises should you choose to watch "Exam" yourself. Another film that this reminded me of was "The Breakfast Club". It's probably the setting more than anything else but I'd even go so far as saying that the way the backgrounds of each character came out were quite similar. Admittedly there was no hint of romance and not a lot of comedy in "Exam" but I did feel that it could have gone that way a few times if the script and direction hadn't been as controlled as it was. I wanted something to happen between Luke Mably and Nathalie Cox and there certainly seemed to be some subtext there but it didn't turn out to be what I thought it was at all. Luke Mably may be known to American TV viewers for his role in "The Gates". I still haven't watched a single episode of it so I couldn't tell you who he is in it or whether the show is any good or not. In "Exam" he was absolutely excellent though and you'll love and hate him at the same time. He pretty much eclipses all the others apart from former "Eastender" Jimi Mistry but this is one of those stories where the characters you don't really notice turn out to be the most important. You'll never guess the ending which is de rigeur for this genre unless you are one of those annoying people who can work out who the villain is in "Scooby Doo" cartoons or something. I'm sure there are a lot of reviewers who would lie and say that they worked out how it was going to end right from the start but I'll happily admit that I didn't have a clue myself. I was too wrapped up in watching everyone solve the puzzle to even think about what it would lead to and that is both the film's major strength and its weakness. The slightly futuristic setting and the revelations about what is going on in the world outside which has lead the eight people to be taking this particular exam was a very inspired idea. The downside to this was that, ultimately, I didn't really care and found it to be a little bit far-fetched. The final scenes were somewhat of a cop-out but at least they weren't all dead and living on an island or anything ridiculous like but I had a horrible feeling that they would be when Jimi Mistry almost turned into Sayid at one point. If you noticed how I've highlighted a lot of similarities between "Exam" and other films and TV shows then you'll probably realise that "Exam" isn't all that original. It really does borrow its best points from things we've all seen before. Having said that, all these elements have been so skilfully put together that most people wouldn't even notice. I suppose that's the curse of watching as many things as I do inside and outside of the horror genre. After a while, there really is nothing that original any more just how it is presented with a slightly different spin on it. Before I end this review, I have to mention that Adar Beck who plays "Dark" (they are all named after their hair colour or racial type) has some absolutely stunning photos of herself on her IMDb profile. I don't know anything about her since "Exam" was her first real film appearance other than a short which I've never seen but I hope that she's in more good things in the future. Yes, I do now have a little crush on her but it won't effect my rating of "Exam" in any way. I'm happy to give "Exam" a pass mark of 7 out of 10. It had some great performances, looked good, and it held my interest all the way through. For someone like me who has the attention span of a gnat with ADHD, this was a great achievement. It only loses marks because the emotional payoff at the end didn't do anything for me as a hardened horror fan without much compassion for the human race in the first place and I'd obviously rate it even higher if Luke Mably's character, White, had been even more like me. I recommend that you all take a small break from watching horror movies and give "Exam" a try. It's probably not something you'd want to buy or watch more than once but it's certainly worth renting or adding to your Netflix queue.

• Cynthia S

  
  Very interesting, and insightful. It's great when you can enjoy a movie even if it doesnt have fast action, or explosions, to keep you entertained. Nicely done with only one room, some tables and chairs. Characters that make you think...what a concept! My only complaint is that… More
  Very interesting, and insightful. It's great when you can enjoy a movie even if it doesnt have fast action, or explosions, to keep you entertained. Nicely done with only one room, some tables and chairs. Characters that make you think...what a concept! My only complaint is that it ran a little long, in my opinion. But, all in all, an intriguing piece of work.

• Jason S

  
  I really enjoyed the mystery of it all. I liked how the build up of the situation and the world outside the confined room the characters found themselves in played out. The actors were spot on for their roles as well with a couple of stand outs.

• Carlos M

  
  Althought it starts off quite well, Exam is too unoriginal, drawing inevitable comparisons to The Apprentice and films like Cube and El Método. However, the real problem is how pointless the story really is, coming to a frustrating ending.

• Gordon A

  
  Interesting premise let down by a daft ending.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"How far would you go to win the ultimate job?"</i> Eight talented candidates have reached the final stage of selection to join the ranks of a mysterious and powerful corporation... <center><font size=+2 face="Century… More
  <i>"How far would you go to win the ultimate job?"</i> Eight talented candidates have reached the final stage of selection to join the ranks of a mysterious and powerful corporation... <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> Take "Saw" and remove approximately 95% of the torture element, then take 8 candidates, sit them in a room and give them an exam presided over by a security officer who oversees all, as they seek to find the answer to the question that they've been asked by the invigilator of a surreptitiously successful organization. Of course, once they actually find the question first that's easy, or... is it? To some people this movie will be an absolute bore. To others it will be an enjoyable psychological mystery - albeit more 'who wins the job?' than 'whodunnit?' Direction, screenplay and acting are all admirable.

• Brian D

  
  Nicely crafted movie with a not so original set up but interesting one all the same. The movie moves at a steady pace and all players are great at there roles.My only grip is the ending after 80 mins it come to the showdown and o boy it really stinks.Was so disappointed we the… More
  Nicely crafted movie with a not so original set up but interesting one all the same. The movie moves at a steady pace and all players are great at there roles.My only grip is the ending after 80 mins it come to the showdown and o boy it really stinks.Was so disappointed we the outcome! Would of got 4 stars but loses one for that!

• August S

  
  Though really not for the CGI dependent viewer who watches film only through the eyes. This movie creates an excellent puzzle for the movie fans, that will keep you guessing until the end of the exam.

• Christopher H

  
  Tacky yet conversational, "Exam" takes place in one room that no one is allowed to leave. The plot is reminiscent of far too many films, including "Saw 2" and "the Cube". The characters are all stereotypical and completely blown out of proportion. The… More
  Tacky yet conversational, "Exam" takes place in one room that no one is allowed to leave. The plot is reminiscent of far too many films, including "Saw 2" and "the Cube". The characters are all stereotypical and completely blown out of proportion. The film's saving grace was simply the hook of the mysterious plot line and twisting climax. Plus, I respect the fact that Stuart Hazeldine wrote, directed, produced, and auteur-ed the hell out of the film.

• Lesley N

  
  Eight very different people are locked in a room for 80 minutes to answer one simple question and win their dream job. Trouble is, nobody knows the job... or the question. A nice set up for a one-scene psychological drama, and even if some of the stuff they come out with is a bit… More
  Eight very different people are locked in a room for 80 minutes to answer one simple question and win their dream job. Trouble is, nobody knows the job... or the question. A nice set up for a one-scene psychological drama, and even if some of the stuff they come out with is a bit silly, there's enough to hold your interest. Until the final payoff, that is, which is a real clunker. And makes you realise you've just wasted 80 minutes of your life.

• Nicolas K

  
  If I had never watched the Cube all these years ago, perhaps I would not have realised how lame a copy this film is.

• Deb S

  
  Eight talented candidates have reached the final stage of selection to join the ranks of powerful and prestigious corporation. They are now required to write an exam and they have 80 minutes to convince the invigilator that they have what it takes to join a mysterious organization to… More
  Eight talented candidates have reached the final stage of selection to join the ranks of powerful and prestigious corporation. They are now required to write an exam and they have 80 minutes to convince the invigilator that they have what it takes to join a mysterious organization to which there is only one question before them and only one answer is required. This last hurdle separates them from their goal and will determine who will leave the room with a contract of employment. But there are some simple rules and those are as follows: 1.If you try to communicate with the invigilator or the guard, you will be disqualified 2.If you spoil your paper intentionally or accidentally you'll be disqualified 3.If you choose to leave the room for any reason, you will be disqualified 4.The only rules in the room are "the organization" rules As the clock steadily counts down the candidates wonder if this fantasy job is worth killing or dying for? If you seek the answer to that one then you will need to watch this movie to solve that mystery or you can just simply ask me lol. Hmmmm, will this be the makings for a new Apprentice show?

• Doctor S

  
  Promising start following an agonizingly slow credit crawl but gives an extremely disappointing payoff. (Namely, the 'answer' to the 'question.') I'm getting tired of these <i>Cube</i>-like riddle movies that can't deliver on their premise.… More
  Promising start following an agonizingly slow credit crawl but gives an extremely disappointing payoff. (Namely, the 'answer' to the 'question.') I'm getting tired of these <i>Cube</i>-like riddle movies that can't deliver on their premise. The breaking point occurred once they tied the guy to the chair, then the dynamics regrettably shifted from puzzle solving to finger pointing. And much like the beginning, it takes forever to end.

• Sylvester K

  
  YES British horror!!!! Suspenseful but disappointing

• d j

  
  Very well done. Great example of a sophisticated psychological thriller without the gore and slashing of Saw. I always appreciate when movies are suspensful without needing a lot of props or set changes.

• Marcus W

  
  Eight people locked in a room. It's an easy premise to play with and for a British Indie, it's not bad. It's obvious who the "crazy" guy really is, and which of the candidates will win. They also use too much "Star Trek Logic" to explain away the… More
  Eight people locked in a room. It's an easy premise to play with and for a British Indie, it's not bad. It's obvious who the "crazy" guy really is, and which of the candidates will win. They also use too much "Star Trek Logic" to explain away the plot holes. BUT, it's still a solid little film with plenty of surprises.

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