Eight talented candidates have reached the final stage of selection to join the ranks of a mysterious and powerful corporation. Entering a windowless room, an Invigilator gives them eighty minutes to answer one simple question. He outlines three rules they must obey or be disqualified: don’t talk to him or the armed guard by the door, don’t spoil their papers and don’t leave the room. He starts the clock and leaves. The candidates turn over their question papers, only to find they’re completely blank. After the initial confusion has subsided, one frustrated candidate writes ‘I believe you should hire me because…,’ and is promptly ejected for spoiling. The remaining candidates soon figure out they’re permitted to talk to each other, and they agree to cooperate in order to figure out the question: then they can compete to answer it. At first they suspect the question may be hidden in their papers like a security marker in a credit card, and they figure out ways to change their environment to expose the hidden words. But light, liquids and other plans all come to naught. Soon enough, the candidates begin to uncover each other’s background, prejudices and hidden agendas. Tensions rise as the clock steadily descends towards zero, and each candidate must decide how far they are willing to go to secure the ultimate job . . .

Exam (2009)
  • Rating: (15,672 votes)
  • Taglines:How far would you go to win the ultimate job? » 80 minutes - 8 candidates - 1 answer - no question »
  • Runtime:101 minutes
  • Director: Stuart Hazeldine
  • Country:UK
  • Actors:
    Dark
    Adar Beck
    Chinese Girl
    Gemma Chan
    Blonde
    Nathalie Cox
    Deaf
    John Lloyd Fillingham
    Black (as Chuk Iwuji)
    Chukwudi Iwuji
    Brunette
    Pollyanna McIntosh
    White
    Luke Mably
    Brown
    Jimi Mistry
    The Invigilator
    Colin Salmon
    The Guard
    Chris Carey
  • Genres:Mystery, Thriller
  • Producers:
    Stuart Hazeldine
    producer  
    Chris Jones
    associate producer  
    Gareth Unwin
    line producer  
    Gareth Unwin
    producer  
  • Plot: Eight talented candidates have reached the final stage of selection to join the ranks of a mysterious and powerful corporation. Entering a windowless room, an Invigilator gives them eighty minutes to answer one simple question. He outlines three rules they must obey or be disqualified: don't talk to him or the armed guard by the door, don't spoil their papers and don't leave the room. He starts the clock and leaves. The candidates turn over their question papers, only to find they're completely blank. After the initial confusion has subsided, one frustrated candidate writes 'I believe I deserve...,' and is promptly ejected for spoiling. The remaining candidates soon figure out they're permitted to talk to each other, and they agree to cooperate in order to figure out the question: then they can compete to answer it. At first they suspect the question may be hidden in their papers like a security marker in a credit card, and they figure out ways to change their environment to expose the hidden words. But light, liquids and other plans all come to naught. Soon enough, the candidates begin to uncover each other's background, prejudices and hidden agendas. Tensions rise as the clock steadily descends towards zero, and each candidate must decide how far they are willing to go to secure the ultimate job . . . Written by Stuart Hazeldine
Exam
  • User's comment:exciting, topical thriller by sparkytb

    I had the pleasure of seeing this pic at the recent Edinburgh Film Festival and it is certainly not The Apprentice. More like 12 Angry Men meets Cube.

    Photographed in the impressive cinemascope screen shape and very sharply edited, the director takes us on a psychological journey where the characters, who are at first cagey, gradually open up to reveal their true identities. This manifests itself in various ways as the candidates gradually step up to bat and take each other on in a variety of ways. Some good, some bad, some horrific - but always interesting.

    Perhaps a tad talky in the centre section but it builds to an exciting and clever climax that wields a distinct note of hope and positivity.


  • Quotes: Brunette: I want this. I do. I want it. Black: [grasping his pendant cross] I can do all things. *All* things. Invigilator: The test is simple in comparison, yet it will determine who leaves this room with a contract of employment, and who leaves with bus fare home.
  • Also known as: Экзамен (Russia), Exam (Japan - English title), Exetasi mehri thanatou (Greece - DVD title), Sinav (Turkey - DVD title, Turkish title),

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