Directed by: Craig Zobel
Starring: Ann Dowd, Dreama Walker, Pat Healy, Bill Camp, Philip Ettinger, Ashlie Atkinson
Posing as a police officer, sociopath Healy calls a fast food restaurant and accuses a staff member of stealing from a customer.
Usually I write a review the day after I first watch the movie as I like to give it time to sink in. It's been three days since I watched "Compliance" and I'm still not sure whether it's a good film or not. There are two things I am sure of though; this is one of the must see films of the year and Pat Healy is American cinema's best kept secret, a chameleon of an actor. Remember the name.
The event portrayed here is non-fictional, based on true events which occurred over seventy times in thirty states across America. A tele-marketer, skilled at manipulating people over the phone, would call various retail establishments posing as a police officer and accuse a staff member of stealing money from a customer. Here his target is ChickWich, a fictional fast food chain managed by middle-aged Dowd and staffed by a variety of young slackers. Dowd receives a call from the fake cop, Healy, who informs her that Walker, a pretty young staff member, has committed the theft. Dowd takes Walker into a backroom where most of the film plays out.

Up to this point the movie had me hooked, mainly due to the fantastic performances by Dowd and Healy, but the introduction of Camp had me mentally stepping back from what I was watching. Apparently what transpires actually occurred in real life but it's so hard to swallow that it damages the integrity of the film. I had to keep reminding myself this was a true story as it plays out like a scenario from a cheap porno flick. Part of the problem is the acting by Walker and Camp, simply not strong enough to make the situation believable.

@moviewaffle