The Belko Experiment

While some directors have burned out or clashed with Marvel's vision for their films, writer/director James Gunn has only increased his standing as a Hollywood commodity. Which means after crafting a hit out of a Marvel property almost no one was familiar with, Gunn had other, smaller projects, that could get funding. Those projects include today's movie, a short and nasty horror flick called The Belko Experiment.

In Columbia, a collection of workers shuffles in to their jobs at the Belko Corporation, a semi-mysterious firm with a diverse staff. After noticing an increase in security precautions, the workers are startled when the building is put into lockdown and a voice announces that one worker must be killed within the hour. What follows is a test of morality and survival as the voice asks for more bloodshed, and the remaining workers attempt to survive.

I'll admit that I was a bit letdown by The Belko Experiment. It's a perfectly serviceable movie and fans of horror flicks like Cube and Circle should find some juicy bits to enjoy. However, for me the movie never develops an identity.

Is it attempting to ask questions like "what would you do," make commentary on the pettiness of office politics, or challenge the audience morally? The quote on the video box makes comparisons to Battle Royale, which makes sense considering the premise, but the movie never really lives up to it. Most of the film people are trying to decide what they're going to do, rather than getting at each other's throats or fight against the system.

It might have worked better if the conditions of the setup were well-defined ahead of time. One goal to achieve or you all die. Instead, the terms keep changing as the film progresses which changes the dynamic and motivations of the people involved. If a set number of people have to die or it's a winner take all scenario there's an added amount of tension, but here it never seems to build. In Hunger Game and Battle Royale we know that only one person can walk away alive so wondering whether our hero can survive and someone save someone else keeps us invested and instills the movie with tension. Not so much here. That lack of tension also kills the transitions since they are literally announced over a loudspeaker and tell the audience exactly what's going to happen next.

I was also hoping for some darker laughs in this movie. There's spots of this early on, and Sean Gunn's role as a tweaking stoner is a funny addition throughout the film, but everything else is by the numbers melodrama.

Which is a shame because there's a lot of talent on screen. John Gallagher Jr. works wonders as our audience avatar and moral compass, Tony Goldwyn brings all of his Scandal experience as the cool-headed but perhaps overly rational boss of the building, Adria Arjona gets the film's most compelx role, and John C. McGinley dips into the creep pool. There's also plenty of James Gunn faves like Michael Rooker and the aforementioned Sean Gunn making great appearances as well.

From a horror/gore perspective this is run of the mill. None of the kills are extravagant, though the corporations method of execution is fairly terrifying and there's a couple of kills that will stick with you. However, none of them are standouts for genre fans.

Though I'm certain my review of this film sounds largely negative, I know that this largely due to expectations. I wanted something funnier and more focused, and instead I got by the numbers survival horror with pieces of social commentary along the way.

While not terrible, The Belko Experiment fails to deliver a unique perspective to its survival of the fittest concept. Good for horror enthusiasts but James Gunn die hards might be left wanting more.