The Exam – 2009

August 31, 2010 by JT
Filed under Film Reviews

Anyone that has ever been for a job interview will tell you its a bitch! The nerves, the stress, the endless questions about past employment and future goals.

The Exam is a fast, clever and well scripted thriller set inside the four walls of an exam room. Sealed off from any outside contact eight candidates are set the task of answering one simple question, the only problem is none of them no what that is?

Under strict rules set out in the beginning by the Invigilator (Colin Salmon) the group push the boundaries to the limit to see how far each will go to get the top job with a mysterious global corporation.

Setting a film that centres around one location, in this case never leaving the confines of the exam room can be difficult.

Here though writer/director Stuart Hazeldine does a fantastic job of building the tension and suspense slowly while at the same time developing the characters, and their motives.

It’s a gripping film and does well to keep the audience guessing, with the added bonus of a relatively unknown cast list.

There are some great performances most notably from wide boy Luke Mably who seems to lead the way only for the plot to twist and turn until the last second.

A thoroughly enjoyable film with a few surprises thrown in and one that will have you gasping all the way to the climactic conclusion.

View the Trailer