Review of Exam (2009) by Kelly W — 09 Sep 2010

The premise behind Exam is so genius that it's surprising that it hasn't been thought of before: Eight candidates for a high powered job are locked in a room together to take part in an application process. Before them is a single sheet of paper but when they turn it over, it is completely blank....dun-dun-duh!

Exam is a film which really relies on it's script and characters to make it work and the for the most part, it does. The candidates looks as though they've strolled straight out of Alan Sugar's boardroom...only they do seem to have more than a couple of brain cells between them. Taking a nod to Reservoir Dogs, there are no real names used, just stereotypical nicknames. This is a nice touch as it lends the film yet another air of mystery.

Exam does a spectacular job of keeping the audience guessing as to what is really going on and what the real task at hand is as one by one the applicants fall by the way side. There is a sub plot about a virus which has got out of control in the outside world which in all honesty feels a little unnecessary, but in some ways again adds to the mystique of the film as what's going on outside seems much bigger than what is happening within the four walls.

The cast are all fine, each is playing to type but all are engaging and compelling to watch.

It is with great sadness then that Exam lets itself down very badly with it's rather whimpering finale. All along the film has been building to a big finish but it never arrives, deciding to go out on a rather dull note than the explosive reveal that we'd been expecting. It's a bit like travelling all the way first class only to find out that Disneyworld is shut when you get there.

Exam is well worth watching, even if the ending is a cop out....a very clever thriller for the majority of the time with a great ensemble cast.