In the Company of Men

Two corporate colleagues hatch a brutal scheme to test how far power can go when wielded over another person. One man openly despises women; the other is still battered by a recent breakup. They set their sights on a sheltered, seemingly innocent woman and plot to ruin her life as a stark statement about control and cruelty. The plan unfolds through deception, careful manipulation, and calculated emotional games kept largely behind the appearances of a normal office day. As the scheme tightens, the film tracks the erosion of the men's ethics and their fragile friendship, while the target's responses reveal how easily innocence can be weaponized. No spoilers about twists or endings.

Directed by Neil LaBute, the film arrived in 1997 as his feature debut. Written by LaBute as an original screenplay, it was produced on a tiny budget and became a notable entry in late 90s indie cinema. The director crafts a spare, confrontational style that relies on dialogue and performance to carry the tension.

It was produced on a tight budget of 25,000 dollars and earned roughly 2,804,473 dollars worldwide, a solid showing for such a tiny production. The modest gross helped the film attract future actors and solidified its status as a notable example of how independent cinema can reach a broader audience without big studio backing.

Among indie cinema circles it is remembered for its blunt, provocative stance on gender and power. The film sparked debates about misogyny and moral responsibility, and it remains cited for LaBute's unforgiving dialogue and stark realism, which many viewers find unnerving even years after its release.

Critics were divided; some praised its fearless focus on manipulation and the limits of male camaraderie, while others found it ethically troubling and bleak. The film probes control, honesty, and the consequences when desire eclipses humanity, offering a stark look at how power and privilege can corrupt judgment and empathy.