Exam (Stuart Hazeldine, 2009): UK

Reviewed by Nicholas Berquist.  Viewed at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

Stuart Hazeldine’s debut film, Exam, is an entertaining psychological thriller directed by a man who knows a thing or two about the genre (wrote Knowing, starring Nicolas Cage).   Hazeldine has also received some recognition back home in the UK.  He has been nominated for a BAFTA in the “Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer” category.   He performed all three jobs for Exam, and let’s just say – job well done.

The film begins by introducing the characters in a rather disorienting fashion.  Extreme close-ups of fingers, lips, jewelry, eyes, and just about everything in between acquaint us with the eight candidates.  What is noticeable about the close-ups is that every person seems to have some sort of bruise or scar, an indication that they have already been through a lot.

Once the close-ups are finished, the only set of the entire film is introduced.  It is an austere, monolithic type room, which seems to be straight out of a Stanley Kubrick film.  The eight candidates are ushered in and take their seats behind desks that have been carefully arranged.  It becomes clear these candidates are applying for the job of a lifetime.  We understand this because of the title of the film and the design of the particular scene.  These people are obviously not in high school or college and their attire suggests a sense of professionalism.  Therefore, it becomes clear this is an examination for a very important job.

After the invigilator gives a few instructions and starts the timer, the candidates flip over their exams only to reveal a blank sheet of paper.  One of the female candidates is immediately excused from the room for violating a rule; she has been disqualified.  The remaining candidates agree to work together to unveil the question and then it will be every man, or woman, for his or herself to answer it.  When the question proves to be hidden quite well the candidates turn on each other, losing trust with every passing minute.  The fewer candidates there are, the better the odds of landing the job.

With eight characters from eight different backgrounds one might think this film is about race or class.  It really is more about the corporate world and the deceit that goes on within multinational organizations.  The rigorous exam suggests that corporations abuse their employees and refuse to let them in on the meanings behind the punishment.  If you have seen The Apprentice, imagine someone cranking up the intensity to the point where lives are at stake.  Got it?  That’s a good benchmark for comparing this film.

Hazeldine’s screenwriting is brilliant in this film.  He has only one location but the room undergoes a metamorphosis making it seem like a different room.  Originally, the lighting is white but the candidates believe they can use the lights to reveal the question.  During their frantic search, which involves quite a bit of vandalism, the room goes from white, to blue, to red.  What began as a bleak and colorless room morphs into a colorful, chaotic space.  Along with the room, Hazeldine offers enough twists in this film to make M. Night Shyamalan jealous.

Obviously, if the film takes place in one location the actors must be photogenic and capable. Lucky for us, most of the actors fit these criteria – specifically Luke Mably.  He establishes himself as the leader of the bunch and hands out offensively stereotypical nicknames such as Black for the black character, Blonde for the blonde female, and so on.  This adds a light comedic quality to an otherwise dark, psychological thriller.  It also teases the mind with a subplot that maybe racism will throw a wrench into the groups’ cooperative nature.  Mably does a wonderful job of relating the audience to his character and then undergoes a catharsis.  This is both good acting and good screenwriting.  Stagnant characters are often unconvincing.  Kudos to both Hazeldine and Mably.

Aside from the hollow subplot (a viral outbreak in comparison to Swine Flu), this film offers everything fans of this genre expect to see.  I found myself satisfied with the film and was disappointed when I overheard someone say that Hollywood was looking into creating a remake.  I enjoyed this film for what it was.  Who says Hollywood is going to enhance it?  The beauty is in its simplicity.  That is why I consider the subplot to be hollow.  The simple concept is brilliant and the film follows suit.  If you enjoy thought provoking excitement I strongly recommend seeing this film.