Wow. Just… Wow.
That was my reaction at the end of Compliance, a highly controversial new film from Craig Zobel (George Washington, Great World of Sound) delving into the psychology of following orders. Gripping and emotional with a superb cast of actors, this film is one of the most important movies you should see this year.
A police officer calls a fast food restaurant in Ohio and tells the manager that a female employee is accused of stealing. He then orders the manager to help his investigation by violating the employee’s privacy and dignity in increasingly horrific ways. The manager obeys him without question.
As it turns out, the man on the phone isn’t really a cop. He’s just a man sitting in his home having fun at another person’s expense.
The events illustrated in Compliance are truly unbelievable- how could anyone be so stupid as to believe this guy, to do all the terrible things he says?
But the truth is they did happen. They happened more than 70 times in restaurants across 30 U.S. states. In each case the managers in charge, when asked how they could have done this, all said they thought they were following police orders.
Compliance is a frightening look at how gullible we can be when someone claims to be an authority. We will even go against our own morals and our own common sense if an authority tells us to do so. We may not want to admit it, but study after study has proven this to be true.
The film does an incredible job of showing us how quickly “following orders” can escalate. Once the human psyche has identified and accepted someone as an authority figure, then it can easily be manipulated by that power dynamic.
The manager readily accepts the man on the phone as a local police officer. He claims to have the regional manager, who he mentions by name, on the other line. He threatens to put the young employee in jail if she does not obey. All these actions solidify the man’s claim to authority in the minds of the victims involved- and Compliance illustrates every single detail of the man’s carefully crafted manipulation. This is a wonderful tactic allowing the viewer to assess every factor leading up to this ordeal- and wonder how we would have acted in the same situation.
Ann Dowd (Marley & Me, Garden State) as Sandra the franchise manager, and Dreama Walker (Gran Torino, Sex and the City) as Becky the young employee are perfect for their roles. Dowd is a middle-aged friendly Midwest woman quick to trust anyone and Walker is an impressionable teenager who doesn’t want to cause any trouble. While the roles are both difficult and complex, Dowd and Walker play them convincingly throughout the whole piece.
Compliance is disturbing to say the least, yet the cringes are well worth it based on the important debate and questions that the film raises about ourselves. Well-written, well acted, and impeccably filmed, this should be a film everybody is talking about.
Great post! Interesting psychology principal!
Very interesting film. Just another look at how people don’t ask enough questions. Thanks for sharing.
Wow! I clicked and read the story that you linked to…how terrible! There are some totally sick people out there.
Ah! I already planned to see it. But your review makes me want to see it ASAP. I love movies like this that make people think carefully about what they’re doing.
Why haven’t I even heard of this film? Not that I’m an insider or anything…it just seems a film with such a fascinating premise would be more well-hyped…
I’m grateful for your post, though — and now I’m off to research release dates in my community. Sounds like an INCREDIBLE movie!
Great review! A very important moral issue always.
The issue of following orders has been a plot line in many movies dealing with military personnel, but the issue does have some domestic implications.
It’s crazy the way people blindly follow orders. There’s also a really thin line between sensationalizing these incidents and shining an investigative light on human nature.
So true. I notice that in so many news stories, especially– it becomes like a sick tabloid obsession rather than a real investigation. Sad for the people involved, a lot of the time.
This is the first I’ve heard of this movie, but judging from your review and the plot of the story, it definitely sounds like I need to go out and watch it! Thanks for sharing with us and congratulations on getting freshly pressed!
I read it got some viewers angry at its first showing, and that a few of them walked out. I wonder how shocking it really was. Sounds like the kind of movie that will only get a limited release.
I think one of the most shocking things is that, watching from a distance and knowing the whole time it’s a hoax, it is very hard to imagine this scenario playing out the way it did. It is just unbelievable that the victims believed this guy for as long as they did. Which is why the story is brilliant- because the director didn’t have to make anything up. Yet many audience goers believe he must have…
I have been looking everywhere for showings of this movie in MA!! Can’t wait to see it, nice post.
That’s really neat, I’ll have to take a look! Thanks!
You’re a great reviewer. Thanks for that semi-detailed description. Just enough to spark interest without feeling like I’ve heard the whole story. Thanks for that.
Thanks for this review. I had not even heard about this movie. I’m Dutch and live in America, and I have recently written a series of posts about the Netherlands in WWII, and that one thing we learned was to almost per definition not respect authority, and this movie sounds like it fits right in. A modern version of The Wave, it seems. I’m going to write a post with a link to your post pretty soon.
I’m so happy to see a review on this being Freshly Pressed! I saw the trailer for this film over a month ago and have been telling everyone about it. The cinematography looks breath taking and it’s easy to see what powerful acting and directing is employed by and to the lead actresses, Dowd and Walker. I literally can’t wait to check the film out! Where did you see it? Is it released yet? Thank you for sharing!
Yes it should it be out in major metropolitan movie theaters now- I saw it in NYC at the Landmark Cinema
Thank you! I just checked and I think it’s on a limited release to LA and NYC but an expanded release is planned for Friday so fingers crossed for Philadelphia!
I’m convinced that this is a must see from your review. What a great way to capture the audience attention.
You’ve got me curious now. Looks like I’m going to have to watch the movie!
I’ve got this one in my Netflix queue. Thank you for the review!
Cheers,
Sonya | sonyaleonphotography.com
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Sadly the worst atrocities in the world was committed by people “just following orders”. The Nazi’s frequently used the excuse that they were just following orders at the Nuremberg trials. The world government does not recognize following orders as an excuse. People can still be found guilty in a court of law for doing something illegal in the process of just following orders.
It’s interesting to see how easy we will give up our own free will of “thinking for ourself” to someone who we believe is an authority figure. Glad you posted this. I am going to check the film out.
I hadn’t heard of this film – thanks for bringing it to my attention. Studies on compliance and obedience have always fascinated me; it’s frightening what most people will do when a figure of authority hands down an order. You should check out Stanley Milgram’s obedience studies from the 60s and 70s if this is a topic that interests you.
Yes it’s Milgram’s study that the director often cites in interviews about the film- I’ve studied it in various anthropology courses as well
The Milgram experiment (http://psychology.about.com/od/historyofpsychology/a/milgram.htm) makes for an interesting study and just goes to show how easy it is to manipulate people. To a lesser degree this is obvious when people are scammed on the web/phone by people claiming to be from some authority e.g. their bank, asking for personal details. How often do we, rightfully, challenge that authority?
Truly disturbing, but interesting as well.
Thanks for the review! I had no idea that a movie was made after these events…
Cheers,
Courtney Hosny
Very shocking. While reading the article you linked to I also felt like the entire story had to be a hoax as well. I am looking forward to seeing the movie, I only hope the film doesn’t sensationalize the events, turning it into a more mature/artsy SAW on some level to satisfy viewers insatiable appetite towards voyeurism.
Very evocative.
Excellent post and so very important to be aware of. If you are interested in this topic you should look up the Milgram experiment Located here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milgram_experiment. It is the first historical (and terrifying) series of study on authority compliance. Also check out the Standford Prison Experiment located here: http://www.prisonexp.org/ or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_prison_experiment. Equally terrifying. Although I would say the latter is almost even more impressive as it mainly depicts what will happen to those who are in authority positions and how they allow the power to corrupt them. Great post, Congrats on making to Freshly Pressed!
I remember hearing about these incidents on the news. I always felt that common sense should have kicked in at some point. But truth is, even the most intellectual person can fall prey to the simplest prank. Not that these were simple pranks, mind you.
I can’t wait to see how this movie highlights the psychological aspects of authority and the fear related to it.
I had never heard of this movie until now, and now I can’t wait to go check it out! Great post, and thanks for the recommendation. And congrats of FP!
Wow… I didn’t know about this film – like many others, it seems! Just read the background story you linked to and watched the trailer and after your review it’s definitely on my must-see list… Very thought-provoking – the limits of human behaviour are always fascinating, if sometimes shocking. Thank you for sharing!
I think the scenario reflects the reality and it’s just hard to admit that it really does. So, this movie should be watch by everyone.
Reblogged this on jamesharl – study and write.
After reading this post I’ll watch the film for sure
i remember reading about these events….the absolute most jaw dropping mind boggling bat shit crazy stories i’ve ever heard. just unreal. i’m DEFINITELY watching the movie.
Reblogged this on Will's World and commented:
I remember hearing about these incidents on the news. I always felt that common sense should have kicked in at some point. But truth is, even the most intellectual person can fall prey to the simplest prank. Not that these were simple pranks, mind you.
I can’t wait to see how this movie highlights the psychological aspects of authority and the fear related to it.
Going to have to check this out.