Review: The Belko Experiment (2016)

In an office block in Colombia, 80 Americans who work for the company find themselves in a twisted and bloody battle for survival as they are ordered to kill each other...

In 2000, the Japanese made a film called Battle Royale. Based on a novel of the same name, the film was bloody, controversial and very good indeed. However, that controversy almost certainly caused the film problems in the U.S. where there have been over the years a number of shootings at schools and other places. There had been talk of an American remake of Battle Royale over the years, but that same controversy has almost certainly put paid to any thoughts of that happening.

But that hasn't stopped filmmakers trying a variation of the material over the years.

The Belko Experiment was written by James Gunn, these days best known for his writing and directing of the Guardians Of The Galaxy films. But before this success, Gunn also made some great genre films such as Super or the wonderful Slither. As I understand it, his script for The Belko experiment was written some time ago and was resurrected after the success of his Guardians films.

In its basic story, there are a number of similarities to Battle Royale; one location (here an office block as opposed to an island), a mixed group of co-workers, chips in their heads that will explode (BR had exploding collars) and a limited time frame. The big difference here though is whereas in Battle Royale the pupils had three days to battle each other, here they have to kill so many in a limited time or else those watching will kill twice that number.

Although a short film, around 89 minutes, the film does allow the characters time to breathe, so we can establish the important ones in the context of the story. As a result, when the bloody carnage begins we know who to root for, or at the least hope survives.

The film is directed by Greg McLean, perhaps still best known for the brilliant Wolf Creek. While he doesn't manage to match that film for tension, the story here doesn't really allow for that, he doesn't flinch on the violence. This is a very bloody film indeed.

The cast are all terrific. Tony Goldwyn, Michael Rooker, John Gallagher Jr., John C. McGinley, Adria Arjona, Melonie Diaz to name a few are all great, with some showing some surprising turns as the story carnage builds to its ending.

In fact, as much as I enjoyed the film, the only issue I had was its very end. There is also a relatively throwaway death of a character who up until then has played an important role in the story. It does leave it open for a follow-up, but I'd much rather it was just a one off. But one thing this film has going for it is the humour, which is often funny and does offset the violence at times.

Despite the perhaps unfair, but sadly inevitable comparisons to Battle Royale, The Belko Experiment has enough going for it to be a success on its own terms. I enjoyed it a great deal and would happily watch it again.

Rating - 4/5