EMPATHY, INC
RELEASED OUT NOW! 2019 | 15 | Blu-ray
Director Yedidya Gorsetman Cast Zack Robidas, Kathy Searle, Jay Klaitz, Eric Berryman
If Gremlins taught us anything, it’s that any rules set out in genre movies are destined to be broken. It’s undeniably the case in this low-budget sci-fi thriller, as disgraced venture capitalist Joel takes a stake in a mysterious VR start-up that slowly tears his world apart.
Empathy, Inc’s big pitch is that by giving clients the chance to experience the life of someone less fortunate, they’ll appreciate their own existence more. Unfortunately for Joel, it’s only when he’s in way too deep – tons of his in-laws’ cash already invested – that he realises there’s something rather sinister about his new partners’ operation…
Shot in striking black-andwhite, its VR powered by wonderfully clunky DIY tech, the movie is a brilliant example of how to do sci-fi on a shoestring. What’s more of a problem than financial constraints is a script that fails to explore the intriguing possibilities set up by a solid first act. With blackmail, relationship drama and mind-swapping on the agenda, Empathy, Inc isn’t short of twists, but too many hinge on ridiculous contrivances. If you were running a top-secret tech start-up, would you really leave your computer’s password on a piece of paper in your desk?
Extras Director/writer commentary; behind-the-scenes featurette; deleted scenes; trailers; booklet. Richard Edwards