Dreama Walker as Becky making a phone call in ComplianceImage via Magnolia Pictures
By
Rahul Malhotra
Published 54 minutes ago
Rahul Malhotra is a Weekend News Writer for Collider. From Francois Ozon to David Fincher, he'll watch anything once.
He has been writing for Collider for over two years, and has covered everything from Marvel to the Oscars, and Marvel at the Oscars. He also writes obsessively about the box office, charting the many hits and misses that are released weekly, and how their commercial performance shapes public perception. In his time at Collider, he has also helped drive diversity by writing stories about the multiple Indian film industries, with a goal to introduce audiences to a whole new world of cinema.
Swing and a miss > measured victory. Also, #JusticeForHan. (He/Him). Sign in to your Collider account follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recapBased on harrowing real-life incidents, the 2012 thriller Compliance exposed how vulnerable regular people are to authority. The movie was directed by Craig Zobel, who's now best known for directing the acclaimed HBO series Mare of Easttown, starring Kate Winslet. Compliance served as a launchpad for Ann Dowd, who has since delivered outstanding performances in projects such as The Leftovers, The Handmaid's Tale, and Mass. The movie etched its place in pop-culture history by prompting audiences to walk out, either out of a sense of shame at what they were watching on screen or because it was all too intense. Compliance is available to stream on Netflix, but only until December 5.
The movie featured Dreama Walker as an employee at a fast-food restaurant who is summoned to her manager's office after someone accuses her of theft. Her manager, played by Dowd, is on the line with someone claiming to be a police officer. The man instructs the manager to conduct a strip search on the employee. Tension builds as the officer's instructions grow more outlandish, yet both the employee and the manager continue to obey. Pat Healy stars as the officer on the line, while Bill Camp appears as the manager's partner, who joins in on the operation after a while. Compliance premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it immediately started attracting buzz for its white-knuckle narrative. The movie now holds a "certified fresh" 89% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where the critics' consensus reads, "Anchored by smart, sensitive direction and strong performances, Complicance is a ripped-from-the-headlines thriller that's equal parts gripping and disturbing."
The 'Compliance' Cast Scaled Greater Heights
The movie didn't exactly set the box office on fire — it grossed around half-a-million dollars — but Dowd won the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress. Camp went on to star in cultural phenomenas such as The Queen's Gambit and Joker, while Zobel went on to direct the apocalyptic film Z for Zachariah, starring Margot Robbie, Chris Pine, and Chiwetel Ejiofor. His last movie was The Hunt, starring Betty Gilpin. After directing Mare of Easttown, Zobel directed three episodes of HBO's The Penguin. You have until December 5 to watch Compliance on Netflix; stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
Compliance
Like R Crime Documentary Drama Mystery Thriller Release Date August 23, 2012 Runtime 90 minutes Director Craig Zobel Writers Craig Zobel Producers David Gordon Green, Lisa Muskat, Sophia Lin, Tyler Davidson, Theo Sena, Alyson E. Winick, Eric Hollenbeck, James Belfer, Allan Marks, Andrew BrickmanCast
See All-
Ann Dowd
Sandra
-
Dreama Walker
Becky
-
Pat Healy
Officer Daniels
-
Bill Camp
Van
A normal Friday service at a fast food restaurant becomes interrupted by a police officer who claims an employee stole from a customer, but something more sinister is going on.
Genres Crime, Documentary, Drama, Mystery, Thriller Powered byWe want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful.
Be the first to post Images Attachment(s) Please respect our community guidelines. No links, inappropriate language, or spam.Your comment has not been saved
Send confirmation emailThis thread is open for discussion.
Be the first to post your thoughts.
- Terms
- Privacy
- Feedback
4 hours ago
30 Years Later, This Classic ’90s TV Fantasy Still Holds Up Better Than Its Blockbuster Counterparts
1 hour ago
From 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' to 'Bosch,' These 7 Prime Video Shows Are Perfect From Start to Finish
4 hours ago
This Dark Fantasy Masterpiece Is Still Holding Strong on Letterboxd’s List of Top Shows
4 hours ago
Before 'Superman,' James Gunn Made a Dark and Bloody Superhero Movie — and It's Now on Netflix
What To Watch
July 20, 2025
The 72 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now
Trending Now
The 10 Longest-Running K-Dramas, Ranked
‘Now You See Me 3’ Robs Gerard Butler’s Sleeper Hit Heist Movie at the Box Office
Tom Hanks’ Biggest Sleeper Hit Since ‘Greyhound’ Resurfaces on Streaming