Hey folks, Valkor here. Back in the beginning of April, when TOV’s new site design was all warm, fresh, and piping hot, I did a review for a film called “Rage” (directed by Chris Witherspoon). Rage was about a guy being taunted by an unknown motorcyclist. Why? Well you need to watch the film to find it and I think it’s totally worth it. What does it have to do with this next review? Well the threesome involved in this suspense thriller get more than they bargained for when they make a late night stop at a nearby “ATM” (directed by David Brooks).
ATM finds three coworkers - David (Brian Geraghty), Emily (Alice Eve), and Corey (Josh Peck) on their way home after a night of partying. Corey is feeling a bit peckish and since the nearest place to eat only takes cash, they decide to stop by a nearby ATM. When Corey goes to get cash, he signals for David. And since Emily is left alone in the car, she decides to join them. Just as they’re about to exit, they notice a hooded figure standing between them and their vehicle. He doesn’t make a move… he simply stands there. The threesome doesn’t know what’s going on, why the guy is standing there, or if he’ll even try anything. That question is soon answered when a man, who was just out walking his dog, is suddenly killed by the hooded figure. And now they’re trapped in an ATM with way out, no cellphones (they left them in the car), and oh hey, it’s below zero outside and the hooded assailant has cut the power so now they have no heat.
Why and for what reason this guy is toying with this threesome? Did they piss him off, screw him over, sold him some bad cheese? We’re not sure… and based on the ending of the film we’ll never know because the assailant is never revealed and his motive appears to be completely random.
SPOILER ALERT
When I say the killer isn’t revealed and his motives are random, I mean that. The film opens when the assailant mapping out an area and it isn’t until the end that we see he’s mapping out different ATMs including the one where David and his friends were kept, noting the location of security cameras and escape routes. Yet we still don’t know why he's going through all this. Maybe this guy is really that fucked up and/or is the epitome of evil. Either way, will you enjoy watching it should you come across it on DVD or Netflix?
The Good:
The answer is: maybe. For starters ATM, while not breaking any new ground, is still an interesting take on the genre. The film works in that there are some intense, edge of your seat moments; too bad there aren’t that many, but there’s just enough to keep things interesting. The pacing is brisk; the 90 minute runtime will just fly by. Finally, the acting is OK, not some of the best I’ve seen, but definitely not the worst. Overall, the film isn’t too bad, but here are a few points as to why you may not enjoy this flick.
The Bad:
OK this might appear as nitpicking, but there are events that will just piss you off. Let’s start things off with how the threesome get stuck in the ATM in the first place – David parks his car hmmm… 30 – 40 feet away from the ATM booth, which sits in the middle of an EMPTY FUCKING PARKING LIGHT! Are we lead to believe that people are really that stupid? Who parks their car so far from where they wanna be, especially if there’s nothing in between? Next, David and Corey jump and kill a random stranger that enters the ATM dressed exactly like the killer – so they can take this guy out, but not the one who’s holding them hostage? Next, the killer tries to get into the rear door of the ATM booth. Why? It’s not like he can actually get IN the booth. Was he trying to take out all the power maybe? Nope, he suddenly decides to take a nearby hose and flood the booth with water, ensuring that its captives will most undoubtedly freeze to death. And speaking of which, the killer uses David’s car to trap them inside. Now the door still opens, just not enough that the people can get out. So how does so much water fill up the booth? And it just goes on and on like this throughout the entire 90 minutes. I’m not even joking. For the most part you’ll be shaking your head as to why certain scenarios went down the way they did. It’s just perplexing.
The Ugly:
Emily’s face GOD DAMN!!! Well nothing really happens to her face, but should you watch this film and that scene kicks in, those will be your words. I guarantee it.
If you’re able to suspend any and all disbelief, then you “might” find ATM, which gets a DVD/Blu-Ray release on July 31st, enjoyable. However some of the situations were just too farfetched for me to accept – I’m talkin seriously laughable moments. Though there were some tense moments, it’s not enough for me to give this film a pass. As it stands, out of TOV 5 stars, I give ATM a 2. Now that I’ve sat through two viewings, can someone please explain to me that ending.
