Worth: $10.00
FilmInk rates movies out of $20 — the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth
Cast:
Mel Gibson, William Moseley, Paul Spera, Alia Seror-O’Neill, Kevin Dillon
Intro:
… feels like a protracted exercise in trolling the audience.
An ominous opening – close up on dripping blood, a man begging for his life. But it’s really a guy playing with his young daughter in the kitchen over some spilled cranberry juice, while his adoring wife gazes on.
We meet Mel Gibson as Elvis Cooney, a rugged, middle-aged fellow who jumps into his pristine mustang convertible and heads off to the broadcast studio for his Los Angeles-based job as late-night radio shock jock dispensing advice in a brash fashion.
Upon arrival, there’s a weird encounter with a crazy, suicidal guy in the foyer that Elvis handles with aplomb. Our guy apparently has a knack for dissuading distressed people from committing rash actions.
There’s a lot of prickly energy surrounding Elvis and how he’s regarded by his bosses. He bristles at the suggestion that he needs to do more social media promotion of his radio show, one that he’s helmed for the past forty years.
“Stop pushing the envelope,” he’s cautioned by his programme director Sam, “if not, the big boss is going to replace you.”
Everyone who works at the station is miserable and hates each other’s guts. Elvis thinks nothing of humiliating the new producer Dylan on air, then immediately laughing it off as a “prank.”
Listeners are encouraged to call Elvis live on air and tell him all their problems. People ring in and share their stories as listeners comment on a live feed.
Someone named Gary calls in, admitting he’s planning to “do something really screwed up tonight.” Elvis assures him “we’re here for you, we’re all family,” but Gary disconnects. He calls back a couple of hours later, claiming he’s in the garden of someone who “destroyed his life, so I’m gonna destroy his.”
Elvis tries to talk him out of it, to no avail. Eventually Gary reveals he’s at Elvis’ home, holding Elvis’ wife and daughter at gunpoint. Gary keeps upping the stakes on his demands. Meanwhile, listeners are apparently glued to the drama, posting their comments on social media.
What follows is an elaborate game of cat-and-mouse, as Gary keeps making demands and Elvis keeps trying to outwit him. Most of the story is presented in real time to generate maximum tension.
Writer/director Romuald Boulanger’s film plays out like a rollercoaster of twists and turns and yet more twists. While the performances are convincing, clunky dialogue and improbable plotting fails to convince. Some flashy sweeping camera moves maintain visual interest, but the whole thing feels like a protracted exercise in trolling the audience.
