Compliance

On a crowded shift at a suburban Ohio fast food joint, Sandra, the store manager, takes a call from someone posing as a police officer. He claims an employee has skimmed money from a customer and orders Sandra to intervene. What begins as a simple directive spirals into a tense test of control as the caller instructs Sandra to detain Becky, to question staff and customers in a rigid, procedural way. The exchange pushes the staff to choose between compliance and instinct, while the atmosphere grows increasingly claustrophobic. The film follows the ripple effects of this nightmarish instruction and the moral choices it forces on ordinary people. As the calls go on, the tension tightens and the line between authority and coercion blurs, pulling the audience into the conversation about right and wrong in real time.

Directed by Craig Zobel, Compliance is built from an original screenplay and a tight, single setting. Made on a shoestring budget of $270,000, the film spotlights Ann Dowd, Dreama Walker, and Pat Healy in a chilling performance praised by critics.

The movie sparked industry conversations about the power of ordinary people when authority is claimed over the phone. Critics noted how steady routine and social pressure can erode moral boundaries, prompting audiences to question what they might do in a similar situation.

Critics praised the film for its relentless tempo and the performances of Dowd and Walker, delivering a stark look at power and complicity. The story centers on human behavior under pressure, leaving viewers unsettled about the fragility of social norms and personal responsibility.

The film earned recognition on the festival circuit and received nominations at several independent awards, underscoring its provocative premise and strong ensemble work, particularly Dowd and Walker's performances that drew attention to the moral questions the story raises.