Compliance 2012
Directed by
Craig Zobel
Made by
Magnolia Pictures
Plot Summary
Sandra, the manager of a fast-food restaurant within the ChickWich chain, receives an unexpected phone call from a prankster who claims to be Officer Daniels. This supposed officer states that he has been in contact with the regional manager, alleging that a complaint has been made regarding the theft of money from a customer’s purse during the day. With urgency in his voice, Daniels informs Sandra that he is preoccupied with the investigation at the suspected thief’s home and insists that she must detain and interrogate the staff member implicated in the theft. Deciding to comply, Sandra calls upon Becky, the employee that the caller describes.
Despite Becky adamantly denying any wrongdoing, she goes along with Sandra and Daniels’ requests as she is led into the back office of the restaurant. The caller, still on the line, begins to ask a disturbing series of questions and directs Sandra to search Becky’s pockets and purse for the supposedly stolen cash. When this yields no results, Daniels escalates the situation by ordering a strip search, insisting that failure to comply would result in Becky facing jail time while the investigation continues at her brother’s home. Alone in the office with the caller, Becky is further threatened with the implication that her brother could also be implicated if she doesn’t cooperate.
After complying to an unthinkable level of humiliation, Becky finds herself in only an apron. Daniels instructs Sandra to bag her clothing for later inspection, claiming that items may hold evidence of other incriminating material. Faced with the chaos of the restaurant’s busy operations, Sandra pleads with Daniels to allow her to manage her responsibilities while he insists Becky must remain under supervision. Initially, she turns to Kevin for help, but he vehemently refuses to obey the caller’s absurd directives. Ultimately, Sandra brings in her fiancé, Van, to monitor Becky.
As the tension escalates, Daniels concocts even more degrading requests, demanding Becky remove her apron and perform jumping jacks in the nude under the guise of searching for concealed contraband. In a desperate bid for help, Becky tries to reach out to Sandra, only to face further punishment for what the caller deem as a “disobedient” plea, which includes humiliating directives directed by Daniels that only deepen the torment.
Realizing the appalling nature of the prank, the custodian, Harold, is brought in and reacts with outrage upon hearing the caller’s orders. This leads Sandra to suspect something is very wrong, prompting her to contact the regional manager for confirmation. As she pieces together the truth, authorities are eventually notified, and they arrive just in time to investigate the scene for evidence and escort Becky away.
Afterward, a detective tracks down the prank caller, who turns out to be a telemarketer and family man involved in a shocking pattern of deceitful calls to various establishments. In the aftermath, Becky contemplates a civil suit against Sandra but her legal counsel advises her to target the larger ChickWich corporation. Meanwhile, Sandra finds herself unemployed and grappling with the fallout from the horrific incident, leading her to end her engagement with Van. Ultimately, she emerges from the experience to face a journalist, though she finds herself unable to answer fully due to her lawyer’s presence. The film concludes with a somber statistic revealing that over 70 similar incidents have taken place across 30 U.S. states.
Timeline
Sandra Receives the Call
Sandra, the manager of a ChickWich fast-food restaurant, receives an unexpected phone call from a person claiming to be Officer Daniels. The caller informs her that there has been a complaint regarding the theft of money from a customer's purse, initiating a serious investigation.
Becky is Summoned
Under pressure from the prank caller, Sandra decides to comply with the demands and calls upon Becky, a staff member who is accused of being involved in the theft. Despite Becky's staunch denial of any wrongdoing, she is led into the back office to face the interrogation.
The Strip Search Begins
In a shocking turn of events, Officer Daniels orders Sandra to conduct a strip search on Becky, threatening severe consequences if she fails to comply. This humiliating request leads to Becky being stripped down to just an apron, as she desperately tries to maintain her dignity.
Daniels Escalates the Humiliation
The prank caller continues to escalate the situation by demanding that Becky perform jumping jacks while nude under the pretense of searching for hidden contraband. The atmosphere grows increasingly tense as Sandra is torn between her responsibilities and the absurd demands of the caller.
Sandra Calls for Help
In her distress, Sandra seeks help from Kevin, another employee, but he refuses to participate in the caller's outrageous directives. Feeling overwhelmed, she ultimately enlists the help of her fiancé, Van, to keep an eye on Becky as the situation spirals further out of control.
The Custodian Responds
Harold, the restaurant's custodian, is brought in and reacts with outrage at the humiliating directives given to Becky. This moment sparks suspicion in Sandra, prompting her to realize something is severely wrong with the situation and that they might be victims of a cruel prank.
Contacting the Regional Manager
Feeling that the situation is dangerously out of hand, Sandra makes the decision to reach out to the regional manager for verification of the callers' claims. This crucial step marks the turning point in the narrative as the truth begins to surface.
Authorities Are Notified
With growing alarm, Sandra and others bring in the authorities to investigate the bizarre and distressing incident. The police arrive to assess the situation, seeking to understand the implications of the prank and provide assistance to Becky.
The Prank Caller is Identified
After the authorities investigate, they track down the prank caller, revealing him to be a telemarketer who has previously engaged in a string of similar deceptive calls. This shocking discovery highlights the broader issue of such incidents occurring across multiple establishments.
Becky's Legal Contemplations
In the wake of the disturbing events, Becky considers filing a civil suit against Sandra, but her attorney advises her to target the ChickWich corporation instead. This decision emphasizes the need for accountability in such workplace abuses.
Sandra Faces Consequences
As a result of the incident, Sandra finds herself unemployed, grappling with the fallout from her decisions and actions during the prank. Compounding her difficulties, she ends her engagement with Van, as the emotional toll of the experience proves too great.
The Journalist Encounter
Sandra eventually faces a journalist seeking her side of the story but struggles to articulate her thoughts fully due to the presence of her lawyer. This moment captures her ongoing battle with the ramifications of the incident.
The Aftermath Revealed
The film concludes with an alarming statistic, indicating that over 70 similar incidents have occurred across 30 U.S. states, emphasizing the chilling reality of the prank calls. This statistic serves as a reminder of the potential dangers lurking in seemingly mundane settings.
Characters
Sandra (played by Ann Dowd)
Sandra is the manager of the fast-food restaurant who finds herself in a position of responsibility yet succumbs to the pressures of authority. Her initial desire to maintain order turns into complicity as she wrestles with the difficult decisions imposed upon her. Ultimately, Sandra's character reflects the themes of compliance and the consequences faced by those in positions of authority.
Becky (played by Dreama Walker)
Becky is a young employee who becomes the target of a sinister prank call. Despite her pleas of innocence, she is subjected to horrific humiliation. Becky's character serves as a conduit for the film's commentary on vulnerability and victimization under pressure, highlighting the emotional and physical toll of the ordeal.
Van (played by Bill Camp)
Van is Sandra's fiancé, who represents another layer of complicity when he is drawn into the unfolding crisis. His refusal to partake in the caller's demands reflects a moral stance, yet it also underscores the tensions within Sandra and Van's relationship as they navigate the fallout from the incident.
Kevin (played by Pat Healy)
Kevin is another employee at the restaurant who initially refuses to obey the caller's demands, highlighting a moment of moral clarity amidst the chaos. His character's resistance provides a counterpoint to Sandra's compliance and poses the question of how individuals react differently to authority.
Setting
Time period
The film reflects contemporary social issues surrounding authority and compliance, though it does not specify a distinct time period. It captures a moment in modern American society where technology and misinformation collide, leading to exploitation and abuse of power.
Location
ChickWich fast-food restaurant
The movie predominantly takes place in a fast-food restaurant within the ChickWich chain. This establishment is known for its quick service and casual dining atmosphere. It becomes the setting for an intense psychological ordeal as the characters navigate the harrowing situation instigated by a deceptive telephone call.
Themes
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Authority
A major theme in 'Compliance' is the exploration of authority and obedience. The characters face moral dilemmas as they grapple with the coercive power exercised by the caller impersonating an officer. The film raises questions about how far individuals will go to comply with perceived authority, often leading to catastrophic consequences.
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Humiliation
The theme of humiliation runs deeply throughout the narrative, particularly as Becky undergoes increasingly degrading treatment under the guise of authority. Her experiences shed light on the vulnerability of individuals when faced with manipulative scenarios, forcing audiences to confront the discomfort of such exploitation.
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Deceit
Deceit is a critical theme that illustrates the power of manipulation through lies. The prank caller's ability to exploit the characters' trust and compliance leads to a disturbing series of events, demonstrating how easily people can be led astray and the serious ramifications of deceptive practices.
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