Exam

So to kick off this week of films that take place (almost) entirely in one location, we have Exam, a 2009 semi-futuristic thriller in which eight candidates vying for a position at a company must all complete an exam set by a mysterious invigilator. As they are led into their chairs, the rules of the exam are spelled out for them they receive their papers and are told there is one question asked and one answer is required. Then they turn over their papers to begin and they are completely blank.

Immediately they set about trying to figure out what it all means. Working out through experimentation what they can and can't get away with in the exam room, the candidates begin to question each other. Suspicions arise about how each of them came to be in the room, what they know about the job they are fighting each other for and more importantly, what they are willing to do to get it.

I got this film all wrong. For a start I thought it was another tired entry into the torture-porn genre, but in actual fact there is very little, almost no violence in Exam. What we see here is actually quite a smart, interesting and exciting thriller. As the clock ticks down you will move closer to the edge of your seat in anticipation of the big reveal.

The film suffers and soars as a result of its single-setting approach. Exam keeps its cards close its chest and the mystery of the job the applicants are fighting to win is preserved all the way through, the timeline is such (suggested as SOON by the opening credits) that it seems as though the world outside of that room could be nothing like the one we know and the most terrifying moments in the film come when the doors are opened.

The downside to this is that a few of the characters serve no other purpose than to expose tiny flaws in the room. Even a couple of the main characters are dull regardless of their background and some of the performances are a bit half-baked. In a film with a main cast of 8, all in one room, these things are rather noticeable.

And though that is the case, Luke Mably in the role of White, is incredible. Given the chance to shine by a slightly restrained supporting cast, his approach to solving the question and lack of empathy for his fellow candidates make him stand out as the villain of the piece but the more we learn about him and the others we begin to appreciate his honesty. It is probably fair to say it would be difficult to gain the same appreciation for his performance if it was one of many great ones in the film but he is the shining star in Exam.

Exam isn't the most original film you'll ever see but it is fresh and more fitting now than ever in these times of 'what would you do for a job?' It looks a little cheap and the ending isn't the immensely satisfying conclusion you would hope for, but it is well worth the ride to get there.

Considering its limitations, Exam makes a great effort to soar above the stumbling blocks set by its setting and potentially annoying plot and for the most part succeeds. Definitely better than it ought to be

6/10