ATM

ATM (2011)
Directed by: David Brooks
Written by: Chris Sparling
Starring: Alice Eve, Brian Geraghty, Ernesto Griffith, Josh Peck, Mike O’Brien, Robert Huculak

FILM: ATM
DIRECTED BY: David Brooks
STARRING: Alice Eve, Josh Peck, Brian Geraghty, Mike O’Brien, Robert Huculak, Ernesto Griffith
RATING: 15
RUNNING TIME: 90 Minutes
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geffQdBbKzI[/youtube]
WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT?

Three office workers stop in the middle of the night to get cash out of an indoor ATM Machine, only to be trapped inside when the Boogyman arrives to play a game. Can they make it through the cold night and survive?……..

The Hughes Verdict

There is something quite delicious about this film. While its called ATM, it really should be a spin off to the popular slash series Urban Legends. We have a killer dressed in the same design of the Scream knockoff and we also have a bit of dialogue by the the main trio about an Urban legend involving an ATM Machine. I really do not know if this is an in-joke by BURIED writer Chris Sparling who surely loves his confined space themed horror’s and while ATM is a film that was right up my street, it does not quite reach the dazzling heights of Sparling’s last “buried man in a coffin” feature.

Now where I am from, my ATM machine is situated outside where its a nightmare when it rains. You are standing there getting soaked while the queue never seems to go down and when you finally reach the machine you find the person before you has done something which means its now out of order. Here in the country of America they have indoor ATM’S a neat idea which I can never see catch on in the land of Britain. I mean can you imagine it? Any free space like that and you either have teens sorting out weekend parties or a bunch of Squatters who vow never to leave because they have set up home!

But here they are quite grand and nice that you can actually get in the warm and not freeze to death, but then I suppose that is a better option than the poor trio of David, Corey and Emily have to suffer. Before we get to the indoor cash machine we need to see the three get established in our eyes in what is a normal formula for these kind of set up’s. David and Corey (Brian Geraghty and Josh Peck) are the best of friends who work in a large office, Corey is the quiet type who is in love with the sweet Emily (Alice Eve) but is too shy to talk to her. David (if the face is familiar, he is the one from kid show Drake and Josh) is more chatty and a bit of a dick to be honest, convinces David to talk to her at the office party. Breathing in some confidence, David does and discovers that Emily is even more nice than he could imagine but the trouble is, she is leaving that day for a new job. Somehow this setback does not put off David who offers her a lift home to which she agrees. But……..and this is where the danger comes from, Corey is annoyed that he was promised a lift home and somehow hijacks the lift. On the way he asks can they stop off at the ATM machine to get some money out, the place in question is miles from nowhere, all three enter the building and soon they look out and see a dressed up crazy guy in a Parka. Not sure at first at what this mystery figure wants, it soon becomes apparent when the masked fiend kills a homeless man right in front of their eyes. Now the question is…….how the heck do they survive the night?

I have seen some negative reviews doing the rounds but this is not going to be one of them. I know its not high art or even a rip roaring horror, but it is watchable fare with three likeable leads who carry the film on their young shoulders. What basically you getting with ATM is a survival horror with the slash element thrown in. Its two genres thrown in for the price of one and because of that fans of FROZEN and again Urban Legend will find nothing but enjoyment in the short running time.

The whole concept of ATM is one that will split many down the middle. What we are told is that an Indoor ATM Machine gets locked when you enter and the only way you can get in is by scanning your card. With the three trapped inside, we are under the impression that the killer does not have a card and so needs to find another way in. This of course will have many shake their head but what I saw was a killer who wanted to tease and play the long game. At the beginning of the film you see the killer plan this in detail, so I am sure that the nut job has a credit card. What I believe is that Parka lover gets his kicks on the chase and even one of the trapped guys mutters “Why doesn’t he just ram the car in here to get us!”. Because its too easy…..anyone who has seen Behind The Mask can tell you into what goes into the mind of the Bogyman. You do not just turn up and kill, there is no fun in that and so the poor trapped victims must go through hell while the mad man is outside just waiting with glee.

Sounds boring? Well it depends on if you like you horror based on people using their wits to survive. The heat is knocked off so its basically -4 inside, everything they need is in the car which is too far away and then of course comes the blame game in which the two boys begin to turn on each other while the pretty Emily looks on.

Despite the Slash element, the film offers a hardly worth talking about body count to entice the Scream crowd even though it does contain one splendid dark set-piece and while you may see it coming, its still played out wonderfully and the climax like all these films does have a sting in the tail but again some of you may guess it well before the reveal.

ATM is a daft film where to make the plot move forward, the three characters have to do stupid things. I have seen enough horrors to understand that and know how some fans will not like the film because of it. I mean parking the car so far away from the ATM machine is something that nobody would do in real life, but needed to be done here to add the suspense and thrills when all shit kicks off. Yes its frustration and also daft but you know I really do not care. At times I want to see an horror that I can just sit back without having to think all the time and also shield my eyes at all the gore-porn that is just being splatted on the TV Screen. I mean after watching The Bunny Game which is heavy on torture and grit, my horror senses needed something easy on the eye and ATM filled that need.

I know many may not agree but being a fan of all things Slash, ATM worked a treat, its dumb fun of the highest order and should suit those date night couples on a Friday night, just make sure you take money with you so you have no need to stop off at one of the machines…..you never know, he could be watching…..

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