Director Greg McLean
Genre Action | Horror | Thriller
Cast John Gallagher Jr., Tony Goldwyn, Adria Arjona, John C. McGinley
Rating R
Release Date March 17th, 2017
“In a twisted social experiment, 80 Americans are locked in their high-rise corporate office in Bogotá, Colombia and ordered by an unknown voice coming from the company’s intercom system to participate in a deadly game of kill or be killed.”
The Belko Experiment is an action thriller directed by Greg McLean (Rogue, The Darkness) and written by James Gunn, the man who brought us Dawn of the Dead and Guardians of the Galaxy. With the outrageous premise of a twisted social psychology experiment, forcing office workers to kill each other in order to survive, it certainly turned some heads when the first trailer surfaced. The cast includes John Gallagher Jr., Tony Goldwyn, Adria Arjona, and John C. McGinley.
Well-written, fast-paced, brutally violent, and unapologetic, The Belko Experiment is a thrilling guilty pleasure not to be missed. Admittedly, I was reluctant to go see it right at release not only because it was limited to a few theaters in my area, but my excitement took quite a hit because of all the bad reviews. After first seeing the trailer, I was amped for what looked to be a fresh concept with a solid cast. I am pleased to report that I was genuinely entertained from start to finish. The Belko Experiment is absolutely brutal, and it makes a point to showcase each and every kill front and center, but as a fan that’s what I wanted to see. I wanted each casualty to make me say “Oh damn!” because that is what I was promised when I first watched the trailer. The Belko Experiment sets the table with a far-fetched yet plausible scenario, causing viewers to ponder that age old question, "How would I react in this situation?" That alone speaks to the effectiveness of the film as a whole, and its ability to be over-the-top while somehow still very much grounded in a dark reality not so far from our own. I find social psychology to be extremely fascinating and if you do as well, The Belko Experiment will ignite a few lightbulbs in that brain of yours. Although very different and much, much more extreme, I couldn’t help but think about The Milgrim Obedience Experiment. Bottom line, the concept worked because the writing was strong, the acting was believable and very effective, and the thrill aspect of the film didn’t pull any punches. James Gunn is a heck of a writer and I am very much looking forward to his next project, The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
I'm going to come right out and say it, critics really need to buck up. Not all critics, but the vast majority that took the time to submit a review for The Belko Experiment. I read the negative reviews and in a nutshell they criticize the film for its relentless violence and excessive use of blood and gore. What did you expect?! I mean seriously, the majority of the reviews tell me that they watched a movie that was simply too much for them so they gave it a bad rating. So if I see La La Land and I genuinely can't stand musicals and was simply sick of hearing Ryan Gosling sing I'm supposed to then give it a 0 rating? No, I'm sorry but that's not how it works. A very important unwritten rule for movie critics, or perhaps it is written (to be honest, I'm not sure) is that you leave bias out of it. You review a movie for what it is as well as what it was trying to be. But what you do not do is criticize it for actually accomplishing the goals it set out to accomplish. Just watch the trailer, it's pretty clear what kind of movie this is. If I was James Gunn I would personally call each and every critic and give them a piece of my mind. I would then kindly ask that they refrain from seeing any of my work in the future and instead stick to content they can handle, like maybe something on The CW.
The Belko Experiment assembles a versatile and talented cast perfect for the roles they were given. John Gallagher Jr. was awesome in the lead role, really selling the authenticity considering such an insane premise. He most recently starred in 10 Cloverfield Lane, as well as the Netflix horror exclusive Hush. Veteran actor Tony Goldwyn was amazing as well, playing a very intense and pivotal character crucial to the success of the script. As an actor, director, and producer, this guy takes hardworking to an entirely new level. Another very recognizable veteran actor, John C. McGinley, plays an exceptionally creepy and unsettling role, and he plays it well. If he reminds you of someone in your office, which he may, I would stand clear of that person for now on. Writer James Gunn’s brother, Sean Gunn, plays the role of a paranoid stoner, and he was a nice addition to the dynamic of the cast as a whole. The entire cast did really well and you will surely recognize other faces.
As demented as it may be, The Belko Experiment is an absolute blast. It is shockingly entertaining as long as you can stomach the gratuitous violence. For all of the sissies out there who claim this is the type of movie people walk out of, I shared the theater with two ladies easily in their late 70’s, maybe even early 80’s who seemed to enjoy it immensely, and even sat through most of the credits. A little strange? Sure, but I respect the fact that they see the movies they want to see and they know what to expect after actually watching a trailer. Interesting concept right? James Gunn has undeniable talent as a writer and The Belko Experiment is just further proof of that. Highly recommended.
