I was quite enthusiastic of watching this movie when I learned of it. The plot reminded me heavily of a similar movie titled Exam. Thus, I was expecting a similarly thrilling emotional and psychological ride. I did not receive it. While the movie was entertaining to watch, I could not be helped but be irritated by some of the most illogical actions the characters took given their seemingly high intelligence. Overall, I could pretty much guess what would happen next and the ending was very very disappointing. I could think of at least three different endings that would have been much more intriguing, plot-twisting and unexpected. To sum up, entertaining for while it runs on the screen, but nothing mind-blowing and leaves you rather frustrated at the end.

Five applicants apply for a single job with a big powerful and mysterious company. On the night before the final interview, all are drugged and find themselves in a locked room with no visible means of escape. The phone rings and it's The Employer (Malcolm McDowell) who tells them the final interview will not be what they expected. Hope this is not scary.Well, it wasn't scary, but it was spooky and definitely not for everyone. All agree to work together to insure that no one kills anyone as they all believe that the company wants everyone in the room to kill one another and the last one alive will get the job. Ah, a plan! (um, that's 2-plans)We have: James: ( David Dastmalchian) who claims he is adaptable and is just out of college. Sandra: (Paige Howard) is someone running from her past and will do anything for this job. Mike: (Matthew Willig) as big as a football player and wants to be known for his brain, not muscles. Billie: (Katerina Mikailenko) she has a lot of information on the company and knows some secrets. Keith: (Michael DeLorenzo) a loud mouth who cannot keep his mouth shut, but knows how things work. The room has a door and will only open when the correct code is entered. When one person dies, a code (to open the door) is given via a cell phone. So you see where this is going? In flashbacks, we see The Employer interview each candidate with the last question always being: would you do be willing to do anything for the company? And, they all say YES except one who says it would depend on the situation. You would think that this would not be too interesting, but the pacing, the dialogues, the acting and timing of all in the room keep you wanting to know how this ends. These actors are very good.Malcolm McDowell is pure gold no matter if we see him in comedies, or in dramas. His eyes have that mysterious quality whereby you cannot take your eyes off him as we are not sure what he will say or do next. And, his quizzical facial expressions and sometime staccato deliveries keeps you attentive. Like I said: pure gold. As I said, this is not for everyone (not a family movie). Who do you think will get the job? Keep in mind the applicants are totally highly qualified. If truth be known I have already told you. (7/10)Violence: Yes. Sex: No. Nudity: No. Language: No.

I've seen so many of these types of movies. Cube (also has 2 sequels) was one of the earlier good ones (where random people are stuck in various adjoining rooms with "puzzles to solve"). A more recent one that is better than Employer is Exam (2009) - rated 6.8 and with many great twists. Other similar movies involving people killing each other off in a "room" include: Devil 6.3 (2010) - people stuck in an elevator, The Killing Room 5.7(2009) - people in an scientific experiment, Unknown 6.5 (2006) - people stuck in a warehouse, Fermat's Room 6.6 (2007 - foreign language) - 4 mathematicians in a rm, The Method 7.3 (2005 - foreign language) - interview process Overall Cube (the first one) wins with 7.4 rating and oddly enough being the oldest (1997). Enjoy these movies if you like the genre.

What would you do to go from being in debt, to having a six figure position? What would you do to make a lot of money? These are the questions asked in Frank Merle's well thought drama, The Employer. We the viewer do not know what the job is; but the five candidates know exactly what is at stake. When the final interview takes place, we see how far some will go just to be the person hired.The concept of The Employer is in the realm of movies like Saw or The Hunger Games. There are five people locked in a room and the only way to get the coveted job is to be the last one alive. All five have been drugged or knocked out cold and wake up in the safe locked room. Some remember the last thing they were doing and some have no idea how they got there. A cell phone is found on one of our main characters, James Harris (David Dastmalchian). They receive a phone call from The Employer to let him know that they cannot call the police and that after each person dies, a code to the door would be given to unlock. Soon, they all realize that they have interviewed for the same position and the ambiguous Carcharias Corporation. One by one we are introduced to the different credentials that each candidate has. Strong. Hard Working. Devious. Cut throat. All of them have a story, and all of them need the job.It stars Malcolm McDowell as The Employer. He is the man who sits behind the desk and interviews the five candidates. McDowell has a natural presence about him. We of course all remember him from his breakthrough performance in Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange. He is the perfect actor for this film. He has mystery behind his eyes and his portrayal of power is calm and cool. He interviews the five candidates, one by one with precision and repetition. Asking similar questions to them and getting a similar response with a different answer. Merle has done an impressive job of letting McDowell portray power behind the desk. He is a character that does not show power through pointing a gun or using fists. He simply has power with words or a push of a button.Each candidate in the room is unique. James is a hard working shy guy. He believes that if the five in the room can work together and figure it out that nobody has to die. Along with him is the innocent and scared Sandra (Paige Howard; daughter of Ron Howard, sister of Bryce Dallas Howard); she is running away from something. She felt that getting this job would help her to get away from the past. Mike (Matthew Willig) is the man with muscle who wants to be acknowledged for his brain. Billie (Katerina Mikailenko) is the bad ass woman who has some insider information of the Carcharias Corporation. Last, is Keith Caverns (Michael DeLorenzo) who is the antagonizing loud mouth. All have different qualities and Merle shows these qualities during each individual interview.In the locked room is just the five candidates. There are no knives. No guns. No weapons. This is what separates The Employer from a movie like Saw. This is what I found to be the most intriguing. It was the characters and their personalities that would determine who lives and dies. As the film goes along I was surprised to see what items would be used as weapons. A belt, a tie, a high heel, and even a vent plate. Merle brings the animal out of all five humans. All of this for the sake of winning the job. Even after someone emerges there is still the person already working for Carcharias Corporation that may be the last one out. Alan (Billy Zane) has been loyal to the company for many years, but that does not mean he has job security.The Employer is a good film. Merle has a movie here that is a thriller that puts light on America's social situation of job security. There is more that is said when people are battling for a job that would put not only food in your mouth, but boost you a full pay grade. It is not a battle just for current survival, but a battle for potential security. These are things that all can relate to today. McDowell is the actor who gives a solid performance. Paige Howard and David Dastmalchian give performances that will certainly help their acting careers flourish. They show promise in their young careers. Billy Zane gives us somewhat a cameo for his short screen time, but his role proves that your job can never be safe even if you are the best employee at Carcharis Corporation. An intriguing concept and thrilling to watch! The Employer is a winning film!More reviews at AMOVIEGUY.COM