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Exam
2009 101 min United Kingdom 16+
★6.7
Thriller, Mystery
Director: Stuart Hazeldine
Trailers
Description
Eight talented candidates have reached the final stage of selection to join the ranks of a mysterious and powerful corporation. Entering a windowless room, where an armed guard keeps watch, they are given 80 minutes to answer one simple question.
Budget:
$600,000
Worldwide:
$394,717
Starring
Adar Beck
Actor
Luke Mably
Actor
Gemma Chan
Actor
Awards
BAFTA 2010
— Best Debut
Key opinion
Exam is generally viewed as an engaging and tense single-room thriller that functions effectively as a cerebral puzzle. While many appreciate its atmospheric setup and psychological dynamics, critics are divided over the payoff, with some finding the ending and character depth lacking compared to similar genre staples.
| Direction | The film successfully creates a high-stakes psychological atmosphere within a single room using tight, focused direction. | |
| Acting | The performances are largely seen as solid and natural, providing a necessary anchor for the group dynamics. | |
| Originality | The film functions well as a one-time viewing experience but lacks the depth to warrant multiple rewatches. | |
| Ending | The climax and final resolution divide opinion, with some viewers finding the payoff clever and others feeling it is underwhelming or forced. | |
| Theme | Comparisons to genre benchmarks like 'Cube' or 'Saw' create polarized expectations regarding the intensity and logic of the puzzle. |