ATM
USA/Canada 2012, 90m, Buffalo Gal/Gold Circle/Safran
Blu-Ray: Lionsgate (UK) - Cert 15
On their way home from an office party, three finance workers stop at an all-night ATM (or Cashpoint, as we call them in the UK). They find themselves trapped by an unknown assailant, and a deadly battle of wits ensues...
It's an interesting idea, the three leads (Alice Eve, Josh Peck and Brian Geraghty) give good performances, and there are some effective moments of tension and quite brutal set pieces which make a strong impact. Sadly, this technically well staged and shot film is let down by far too many implausibilities:
Why not just trash the ATM machine and set the alarm off?
Why don't all three of them just overpower the guy?
Why does an approaching security guard keep asking the trio if they're alright when there is obviously something wrong, and they have clearly written HELP on the window?
I could go on, but you get the idea. The whole thing requires the viewer to suspend disbelief beyond any reasonable level, and considering that writer Chris Sparling also gave us the rather brilliant Buried, that's pretty shocking.
Still, in the current economic climate, it's difficult not to have at least some respect for any film which involves three bankers being tormented for the duration...
Original Theatrical Trailer:
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