The Belko Experiment (2017) #470

 

"The Belko Experiment" is an ultra violent, gore filled film written by James Gunn ("Slither" and "Guardians of the Galaxy), and directed by Greg McLean ("Wolf Creek"). The star studded cast includes John Gallagher Jr ("Hush" and "Cloverfield Lane"), Michael Rooker ("Slither"), John C. McGinley, and Sean Gunn. It had received mix reviews when it was first released but remains a favorite among genre enthusiasts. 

The film opens with everyone heading into work at the Bogota, Columbia branch of the Belko Industries. The office building is secluded from the rest of the city and is surrounded by fences and armed guards. This is all for the protection of the mostly American staff. All staff members receive a small tracking device that is planted near the base of the skull in case they fall victim to kidnapping or demand of ransom. For some odd reason, all of the guards are new and no one knows where the previous ones are. Once everyone has reported to work and their day begins, an unknown voice comes over the intercom speakers and announces that two employees must be killed or else there will be serious consequences. Panic ensues, people try to escape but they find themselves trapped in the building. When the time elapses and no one has been killed, four random employees die killed when their "trackers" detonate. Further instructions are given to kill or be killed, and the building fall into utter chaos.

The film explores the morality of what people would do in a situation like this, and how those who consider themselves in power prey on those without. In this case it's the management team and those who see their lives as more important that others who try to control the situation and decide who gets to live and who gets to die. It's a gut wrenching scenario to watch as the employees who are old, single, or who do not have kids are lined up to be executed. But not everything goes to plane because not everyone agrees with what the few have decided...

What makes this film interesting is watching those who don't want to follow the orders to kill. They try to find ways to escape, to cope and manage their stress, and try to fight back. Mike, played by John Gallagher Jr, tries to protect his girlfriend/coworker Leandra, ensure that no breaks into the gun locker, and tries to flag down help from the outside world. The people who are trying to do the right thing are the ones whose deaths come most shocking as the experiment comes to it's epic conclusion.