Try to imagine this scenario as follows: A dark room filled with fifty people of different ages, ethnicities, and cultural back rounds. Every two minutes, someone there has to die. Now either the people in the room vote on who that is, or the room chooses for them. Sound like the plot of a movie? Well, that would make sense. Because it is. In 2015, Circle debuted at the Seattle International Film Festival and is now streaming on Netflix and other platforms.
Circle tells the story of fifty people from earth who have been abducted by invaders to choose one person amongst them to live.
Filmed for the most in part in one location, Circle tells the story of fifty people from earth who have been abducted by invaders to choose one person amongst them to live. As they all stand in a circle around a black dome and are unable to move from their standing position, every two minutes they must vote on who will be the next to die. With very limited time to think and almost no time to react, the group tries to figure out the sick game they’ve all been forced to play in the hopes of saving as many as they can. Things prove difficult however when personal values, beliefs, and self-preservation become important in deciding who stays and who goes.
The cast of this movie is not filled with A-listers, but that’s perfectly acceptable as Hollywood would probably never consider doing a picture like this anyway. All of the actors involved do themselves and the entire movie justice, with some of them having very limited time to even make an impression. Lead by writer/directors Aaron Hann and Mario Miscoine, Circle is a movie that says what many others think on a regular basis but are otherwise too cowardice to say. They are undoubtedly the reason a movie like this would garnish its due recognition. Full disclaimer however, Circle is a movie of harsh truth, not a ‘feel good’ flick. It will have audience members in shock, in thought, often times in disgust, and other times in envy. Exceptionally written and while simply put together, Circle is a must see for anyone who enjoys movies that are neither formula written or predictable. The tone is dark, but realistic in terms of the situation: Life and death, and what people will do and/or how far they’ll go to stay alive.
Movies like this only come around once in a while. Whether or not its “good” of course, is obviously up to personal preference, but it’s still important to highlight what a production like this gets “right”. Unfortunately, these types are often shunned by the big suits because it is not plotted out like any other big budget project. It’s not for lazy viewers, nor is it for audience members who refuse to think. Circle demands attention and for the viewers to decide a great many things for themselves, which is not a crime in cinema but it also not typically how most Hollywood movies operate. Regardless, why not take some time to step out of that comfort zone?
