ATM (2012)

ATM joins a long line of claustrophobia-based horror/thrillers; here its three leads after a work night out head for a booth style ATM to get some cash. Having entered the booth, the trio observe a brutal killing of a man outside, by a parker wearing silhouetted figure. Trapped inside the booth too scared to get out, the figure carries out a reign of terror on the group, without actually going into the booth; unaware to the killer the doorway (normally secured by the use of a ATM card) is not locked, he thinks he can’t get in…But is this a good, or bad thing?

ATM is a fairly capable indie thriller, cleverly charged to release little bursts of action and excitement so as to avoid overly wordy monologues/dialogues between the characters trapped inside the booth. In fact, like so many similar types, ATM succeeds in not becoming dull at any point, then when you think all the punches have been drawn as the movie comes to a close, it takes you further down a dark passage into territory you would not normally see in similar movies. ATM does the one thing that these sort of movies keeps secret, it answers those questions that you normally walk away from a mystery thriller with, it gives solutions, and its these solutions that make the message the movie delivers that much worse.

The two leads David (Brian Geraghty) and Emily (Alice Eve) are incredibly like-able characters, a little sad really because this is one of those movies that you get the feeling from the start that things might not end nicely. So along with the action, and the horror, begins a love story between David and Emily, as they battle for survival against the odds. As performers, they do very nicely too; just the right level of looks and charisma to keep you glued to their actions.

ATM is a dark, compelling movie with more kicks than you might expect, and ultimately the blackest of journeys possible.