Circle Review

Circle (2015)

IMDb genre: Drama/Horror/Sci-Fi

Director: Aaron Hann, Mario Miscione

Writer: Aaron Hann, Mario Miscione

Starring: Julie Benz, Mercy Malick, Sara Sanderson

While it may be a little unorthodox, I’m going to start this review by saying this film is a better version of a totally different film. The film I am comparing it to in this case is 2013’s The Human Race. While I found the idea behind The Human Race quite horrifying I felt the execution was flawed. Circle follows a similar idea but has ironed out some of the flaws.

The decision to start the film without any explanation is a great one; we have the same disorientation as the characters so we begin to connect with them from the start. This means the writer/directors can follow the plot through and let the character development crop up naturally rather than trying to focus on the pasts of too many characters, particularly as many of the initial 100 don’t have much screen time. Clearly then the death count is incredibly high but that being said this is not a gory film. The deaths are quick and are almost used only to further the plot. They don’t need to make a spectacle of them because the main focus here, and where the real horror is, is the interaction between people.

There isn’t any explanation as to why the 100 people are so diverse, we have all races, ages, sexualities etc, but there is only one who doesn’t speak English. This is a problem as the group is representative in other ways, it seems the only reason there aren’t more foreign language speakers would appear to be convenience and ease of watching. This is an understandable decision but a little disappointing.

In terms of the plot it is reasonably simplistic but not too predictable and the evil behind the circle is never fully revealed which is a smart decision, it makes sure the film stays with you and adds scare factor.

I don’t want to give too much away but I would definitely say check this one out. The acting is excellent and I find myself still thinking about this movie after watching it more than a week ago.

General Opinion: 

 

Scare Factor:  

The movie is not a standard horror, it may make you jump a little but seeing the true nature of people is what’s genuinely terrifying. The movie, particularly the ending, will work its way under your skin and stay there.

Gore: 

The deaths are bloodless but they are frequent.

Clowns: 

 

This is not a comedy.