I usually enjoy watching (and reviewing) mostly Horror films, but as any Netflix subscriber is surely aware by now - the options for this genre are quite limited. Therefore, I've decided to "settle" for a suspenseful thriller, read the short description of Circle an figured it should have certain Horror elements (at least as far of modern Horror is considered). Luckily, I was right, and more importantly - Circle has turned out to be quite a rewarding experience.
From the very beginning the setting reminded me of the Saw anthology: a bunch of people (I believe it's around 50) wake up trapped and are forced to try and figure out how to survive. Very soon they find out that every couple of minutes one of them is killed, and moreover - they're supposed to collectively decide who it's going to be. It's important to say that aside from the eventually apparent cause of their captivity and the manner in which the "lucky" chosen are in fact chosen - Circle has very, very few Sci-Fi elements. If you're looking for a film that's actually Sci-Fi - you might be understandingly disappointed.
As the prisoners grasp their predicament and begin trying to first make sense of it and later survive it - Circle becomes a bluntly and painfully realistic criticism of humanity and human society. Racism, egoism, deceit and apathy draw a very unflattering picture of the average human being, and the audience can't help but wonder: is this me? Would I be able to remain human in the face of such circumstances? And besides, how would one define "remaining human", by the norms and conventions of society, or by a more subjective moral attitude (which is just as legitimate under the circumstances)?
The story, in my opinion, is exquisite, though it's important to stress that credit is due to the book, not the film. I also found the acting to be pretty decent, though none of the characters left a lasting impression. Also, the ending involves quite a plot twist followed by a pretty surprising conclusion, which serves to create a series of rapid unpredictable events. While I'm admittedly a sucker for good plot twists - I can't help but feeling that I might and should have seen it coming, so other viewers might be a little annoyed with how obvious the ending was.
All in all, I'm very pleased that I chose to give Circle a chance, even if only to witness the incredible dark and grim interactions between the characters as they settle the struggle between their consciences and basic urges of self-preservation. While my first recommendation would be that you read the book - to watch the film would be a close second.
From the very beginning the setting reminded me of the Saw anthology: a bunch of people (I believe it's around 50) wake up trapped and are forced to try and figure out how to survive. Very soon they find out that every couple of minutes one of them is killed, and moreover - they're supposed to collectively decide who it's going to be. It's important to say that aside from the eventually apparent cause of their captivity and the manner in which the "lucky" chosen are in fact chosen - Circle has very, very few Sci-Fi elements. If you're looking for a film that's actually Sci-Fi - you might be understandingly disappointed.
As the prisoners grasp their predicament and begin trying to first make sense of it and later survive it - Circle becomes a bluntly and painfully realistic criticism of humanity and human society. Racism, egoism, deceit and apathy draw a very unflattering picture of the average human being, and the audience can't help but wonder: is this me? Would I be able to remain human in the face of such circumstances? And besides, how would one define "remaining human", by the norms and conventions of society, or by a more subjective moral attitude (which is just as legitimate under the circumstances)?
The story, in my opinion, is exquisite, though it's important to stress that credit is due to the book, not the film. I also found the acting to be pretty decent, though none of the characters left a lasting impression. Also, the ending involves quite a plot twist followed by a pretty surprising conclusion, which serves to create a series of rapid unpredictable events. While I'm admittedly a sucker for good plot twists - I can't help but feeling that I might and should have seen it coming, so other viewers might be a little annoyed with how obvious the ending was.
All in all, I'm very pleased that I chose to give Circle a chance, even if only to witness the incredible dark and grim interactions between the characters as they settle the struggle between their consciences and basic urges of self-preservation. While my first recommendation would be that you read the book - to watch the film would be a close second.