I was tempted to watch this movie by nice and neat title and poster. And oh, God, this was terrible mistake.The plot is boring and predictable, because idea of kill-others-to-survive in this movie seen thousands and thousands times. The movie gives you almost nothing about the company, neither about the employer itself - what they're doing or why etc. So no strong background for the plot. And this is why this movie seems not as serious as others in this kill-to-survive category. Most of the flashbacks were not interesting, boring and almost unnecessary as they don't really untangle characters as much as you would want.I don't know if this supposed to be gore or psychological movie, but it really lacks both of those elements. You can't feel the intensity, suspense in this movie (like in Would You Rather, which I really liked). At all. Action in kidnap flashbacks is all the same. Well, IMHO, it could be more original than just grab-and-go.Half of the actors seems like they're don't know what they're doing here. I've seen hundreds of thriller movies, in which you can really feel what characters feel etc. Hell, even in Yotube short-movies you can see better acting.So I guess it is a one night stand movie with bad hangover. Not bad, but it could be far more intensive as it supposed to be thriller, right?

Well that was boring, halfway through I began fast forwarding through the rest.The premise of people trapped in a room, is old. People trapped in a room for a job, has already been done too (can't remember the name of the movie though).The production value is inexistent. My HDCam makes better pictures than what I've seen here. Acting is bad, lighting is awful, score is generic, nothing in this movie is new.McDowell played 6 minutes in this movie, he probably just needed a morning to get the filming done. Well, lately he showed up in Z-Grade movies anyway. Seeing him casted is a strong indicator for a poor movie.Please excuse my low quality review, but I just did it to balance the 10/10 fake reviews written by the PR guys.

Do you like claustrophobic horror flicks in which people's weaknesses are exploited so that the worst comes out in them, resulting in murder? If so you will like this film, I did. The Employer asks an honest question. What are you will to do for an awesome job that will allow you to get away with anything and to probably get really rich?The five contestants in this film are willing to do anything. In this case that means surviving this 5-way massacre/job interview, and more than likely killing a few people along the way. The film written and directed by Frank Merle, plays on the cold-heartedness of big business in America.I enjoy the polarities Frank draws between killing people, and killing businesses, which is what the Carcharias Corporation apparently does. I also found the death by stiletto heel to be very enjoyable, as was the performance by Michael Delorenzo, as Keith Caverns. Michael has a certain way of making you hate the character he portrays, which is exactly what the Writer/Director wants.

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