🪶 Story & Synopsis
In the American sci-fi thriller “Circle” (2015), written and directed by Aaron Hann and Mario Miscione, the story unfolds in a dark room where 50 individuals awaken to find themselves arranged in a circle around a mysterious black dome. Tension mounts as they discover that the dome is lethal, randomly executing one person every two minutes with an electric spike. With fear gripping the group, they realize they must make a grim decision – to collectively choose one person among them to survive. The film delves into the complexities of human nature under extreme pressure and poses moral dilemmas as the characters grapple with life and death decisions.
The ensemble cast includes Allegra Masters as the Pregnant Girl, Aimee McKay as Beth, Ashley Key as the Young Girl, and a diverse array of characters ranging from the Oldest Man portrayed by Bill Lewis to the College Guy played by Carter Jenkins. Each character brings a unique perspective and background to the harrowing situation, creating a microcosm of society within the confined space of the room.
Produced by Michael Nardelli, who also stars in the film, “Circle” draws inspiration from “12 Angry Men” and is noted for its ability to explore political, social, and psychological themes. The directors aimed to provide a thought-provoking narrative that challenges the audience’s perceptions and beliefs. The production, spanning three years from pre-production to filming, meticulously planned each scene, ensuring a cohesive and impactful storytelling experience.
As the characters grapple with the moral implications of their choices and confront their own biases and prejudices, “Circle” unfolds as a riveting psychological thriller that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. The film’s definitive ending distinguishes it from similar works like “Cube,” offering closure while leaving a lasting impact on its audience.
With intense performances, a gripping storyline, and a premise that forces viewers to confront their own values and beliefs, “Circle” stands out as a compelling and thought-provoking addition to the sci-fi thriller genre, showcasing the darker aspects of human nature when faced with life-or-death decisions.
🧑 Cast & Crew
Julie Benz, Mercy Malick, Carter Jenkins, Molly Jackson, Michael Nardelli, Sara Sanderson, Kevin Sheridan, Cesar Garcia, Lisa Pelikan, Zachary James Rukavina, Lawrence Kao, Jordi Vilasuso, Kaiwi Lyman-Mersereau, Michael McLafferty, Allegra Masters, Autumn Federici, John Edward Lee, Matt Corboy
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Michael Nardelli | – |
| Carter Jenkins | – |
| Lawrence Kao | – |
| Allegra Masters | – |
| Julie Benz | – |
| Mercy Malick | – |
| Lisa Pelikan | – |
| Cesar Garcia | – |
💬 Reviews and feedback
Imagine being thrown into a dark room with fifty strangers, only to realize that your survival hinges on your wit rather than your physical strength. Welcome to the thrilling and thought-provoking world of “Circle,” a film that takes Darwin’s theory of ‘Survival of the Fittest’ to a whole new level.
The Circle is not your typical survival movie where muscles reign supreme. Instead, it delves deep into the complexities of human nature, challenging our perceptions of what it means to be fit in a society driven by technology and transparency.
Directed by James Ponsoldt, this minimalist masterpiece keeps you on the edge of your seat as it explores the implications of complete social transparency. As Mae embraces drones and the concept of transparency at the end, we are left pondering the consequences of living in a world where secrets are obsolete.
Plot and Themes
- In a darkened room, fifty strangers awaken to find themselves at the mercy of a mysterious force that forces them to make life-or-death decisions.
- The movie challenges traditional notions of fitness by emphasizing wit over physical strength as the key to survival.
- Themes of human nature, morality, and societal dynamics are explored through riveting dialogue and intense decision-making scenarios.
Acting and Characters
The ensemble cast delivers standout performances, capturing the desperation and tension of their characters facing imminent death. Each actor brings depth to their role, making you empathize with their struggles and choices.
Direction and Cinematography
- James Ponsoldt’s direction creates a claustrophobic atmosphere that intensifies the sense of urgency and moral dilemma faced by the characters.
- The cinematography effectively captures the raw emotions and psychological turmoil unfolding within the confined space, adding layers to the narrative.
Production Design and Special Effects
Despite its minimalist setting, “Circle” excels in creating an immersive environment that enhances the tension and suspense throughout the film. The use of special effects adds a futuristic touch without overshadowing the core themes.
Editing and Pace
The editing maintains a tight grip on the narrative, ensuring each scene contributes meaningfully to character development and plot progression. The pace is relentless, keeping viewers engaged from start to finish without any dull moments.
Dialogues
The dialogues in “Circle” are sharp, thought-provoking, and reveal insights into human behavior under extreme pressure. Each line adds depth to the characters’ motivations and dilemmas, sparking contemplation long after the credits roll.
Binge-watching Tips:
If you enjoyed “Circle,” consider watching similar movies like “Cube” or “Exam” for more mind-bending suspense thrillers that explore human nature under duress. Get ready for intense decision-making scenarios that will keep you guessing until the very end!
In conclusion,“Circle” is a gripping sci-fi thriller that transcends its minimalistic setting to deliver profound insights into human nature and societal dynamics. It challenges viewers to question their own values and beliefs while keeping them on edge with its suspenseful narrative.I’d rate it 8/10 for its innovative concept, stellar performances, and thought-provoking themes!
So next time you find yourself pondering life’s mysteries or debating what it truly means to be ‘fit,’ remember Mae’s journey in “Circle” as she navigates a world where transparency is both liberating and terrifying. After all, survival isn’t just about physical strength—it’s about wit, strategy, and sometimes embracing drones while kayaking!
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Thought-provoking examination of society | Disturbing and unsettling |
| Minimalist setting creating a captivating atmosphere | Lacks thorough consideration of its concept |
| Focus on social dynamics and morality | Simple storyline |
| Suspenseful and mysterious plot | Shot in a single, low-budget location |
| Engaging and keeps viewers on edge | Lack of narrative thrust |
Feedback
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Circle (2015 film) - Wikipedia
Circle(2015 film)
Circle Directed by - Aaron Hann
- Mario Miscione
Written by - Aaron Hann
- Mario Miscione
Produced by - Justin Bursch
- Scott Einbinder
- Michael Nardelli
- Tim Nardelli
- Brent Stiefel
Starring - Michael Nardelli
- Carter Jenkins
- Lawrence Kao
- Allegra Masters
- Julie Benz
Cinematography Zoran Popovic Edited by Tom Campbell Music by Justin Marshall Elias Production
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Circle (2015) - IMDb
Its a 6… good if you are watching 3 movies in one night.Eerie? Yes. Smart? Kind of, yes. Interesting? Also, yes. Worth an oscar? No, definitely no. Worth your time? Maybe, if you are into weird movies like “the cube”. 50 people in a circle, don’t know how they got there and every 2 minutes someone gets zapped and dies. Talking seems to be the only way to get through this… So this sounds interesting and it actually is. It will keep your eyes and ears awake and luckily its not a long film, so it never becomes dull. If you are having a movie night and plan to watch 3 movies, then watch this one in the middle. 6/10helpful•21325
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Circle (2015) | Rotten Tomatoes
CircleWhere to WatchCircle
Watch Circle with a subscription on Netflix.
Critics ReviewsAudience ReviewsMy RatingCast & Crew
Aaron HannDirectorMario MiscioneDirectorJulie BenzWifeMercy MalickThe LesbianCarter JenkinsThe College GuySara SandersonPretty Girl
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CIRCLE Official Teaser Trailer (2015) - Horror Movie HD
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Circle (2015) - Plot - IMDb
- Held captive and faced with their imminent executions, fifty strangers are forced to choose the one person among them who deserves to live.
- In a massive, mysterious chamber, fifty strangers awaken to find themselves trapped with no memory of how they got there. Every two minutes, one of them must die… Executed by an electrical pulse generated from a source within the chamber. At first the attacks seem random, but, soon the strangers realize that they, as a group, have the power to decide who will be the next to be killed: by the power of the vote. Mob mentality at its finest hour. A chance to control the machine. How will they choose who deserves to die? What happens when there’s only one person left?
- Fifty people awaken in a darkened room, arranged in two concentric circles around a black dome. When they attempt to move from their designated platforms or touch the others, alarms sound off. When someone ignores the warning and leaves formation, a beam from the dome kills them, and their body is quickly removed. As the others panic, a man attempts to calm them, but the device kills him mid-sentence. Thereafter, every two minutes, another person is killed. After several people die, the group realizes that the room’s technology allows them to use hand gestures to vote for who dies, while arrows on the floor show each person their own vote but not others’. They attempt to boycott the vote, but someone is randomly selected to die after two minutes.Following someone’s suggestion, the group buys time to think by deciding in advance to eliminate the elderly (in real life, they would be the next to die anyways) for the next selections. The captives discuss where they are, how they got there, who has abducted them, and why. A young man, Eric (Michael Nardelli), remembers attempting to flee Los Angeles, and others concur. Eric says that he was pulled into the air, later waking in a red room with other humans. The old man next in line agrees, saying he saw and heard aliens. The disbelieving group eliminates him instead of listening.After another member of the group aggressively targets a 52-year-old cancer survivor over the objections of people who do not consider her elderly, he is eliminated when most of the people in the room vote for him. Several people say they recognize the others: a man identifies the woman next to him as his wife, another man identifies the doctor he was having an affair with, and a tattooed man (Cesar Garcia) is eliminated after he admits to a cop’s accusation of domestic violence (he beat his girlfriend). A colored man laments that colored people will be eliminated next and the cop objects to it and says that colored people already get everything handed to them on a platter. After several minorities are quickly eliminated, an African-American man (Coley Mustafa Speaks) claims the process has become racist. Several others dispute this, but when the cop goes on a racist rant, he is selected next.The captives experiment with voting, find they cannot vote for themselves, and attempt to give one vote to every person in the circle. One man gives a second vote for a pregnant woman (Allegra Masters), so Eric votes for him; this causes a tie and the man is killed in a run-off vote. After several take their own lives (led by Shaun (Daniel Yelsky)) by leaving formation to buy the others time, an atheist (Rene Heger) antagonizes the theists who praised the volunteers’ faith. The atheist is briefly saved, but when he mocks the girl beside him for having her boss pay for her breast enlargement, he is killed. A homophobic lawyer (Michael McLafferty) targets a lesbian (Mercy Malick), and he is killed as a result. The group theorizes that maybe the point of the exercise is to find and vote out the biggest sinner of the group and then it stops. They realize that one of the final two people left must not vote (and be killed) to render a winner.The group creates a schism. One bloc (led by Eric, a Marine (Jordi Vilasuso), and the cancer survivor (Lisa Pelikan)) believes that everyone should sacrifice themselves to save a pregnant woman and a little girl (Molly Jackson), while the other bloc (led by a bearded man (Kaiwi Lyman-Mersereau) and a rich man (Daniel Lench)) wants to eliminate them immediately as a threat to their survival, as they believe everyone is equal and no special privileges should be afforded. The husband and wife team initially vote with the bearded man’s bloc but the husband is forced to vote with Eric’s bloc when they threaten to eliminate his wife. Under interrogation, the couple admit that they concocted the relationship to curry favor, resulting in the “husband’s” elimination.Eric’s faction incurs heavy losses but eliminates the other faction, leaving only Eric, the pregnant woman, the girl, and a silent man who has never voted. Eric theorizes that aliens have used the process to learn about humanity’s values. After the silent man is eliminated, Eric and the girl agree to simultaneously sacrifice themselves. As the girl dies by suicide, Eric instead casts a last-second vote to kill the pregnant woman, only to realize that the pregnant woman’s unborn child counts as a person. Eric votes to kill the child and then wakes up in Los Angeles where he joins a group of people, composed primarily of children and pregnant women, watching a fleet of alien craft float over Los Angeles.
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⚠️ Explanation (Spoiler)
In the movie ‘Circle’, the plot revolves around a group of fifty people who wake up in a room arranged in a circle around a machine. Every few minutes, a light rotates around the circle, allowing each person to vote against someone else. The person with the most votes is killed by a beam. The game continues until there is one person left standing, who is supposed to survive. As the group navigates through this life-or-death decision-making process, tensions rise, alliances are formed, and betrayals unfold.
As the movie progresses, the group dynamics shift, and in the end, only three people are left: a young man named Eric, a pregnant woman, and a child named Katie. Eric comes up with a plan where he convinces Katie to sacrifice herself along with him so that the pregnant woman can survive. He manipulates the situation by appearing noble and ethical to gain the support of the majority. Ultimately, Eric ends up being the last person standing by sacrificing both Katie and the pregnant woman.
The twist comes when the machine considers the pregnant woman’s unborn child as another life form, leading to another round of the game. Eric, in a ruthless move, votes against the child, securing his survival. The movie ends with Eric waking up in the outside world, surrounded by other survivors who are mostly pregnant women or children. UFOs in the sky hint at an alien invasion, confirming that the events of the game were orchestrated by extraterrestrial beings.
The open ending leaves room for interpretation, suggesting that the survivors might be subjected to another round of the deadly game. The movie cleverly explores themes of morality, manipulation, and survival instincts in a high-stakes scenario where individuals are forced to make difficult decisions under extreme pressure.
👪 Parents Guide & Age Rating
TV-MA
Age Rating:
The movie “Circle” (2015) has a rating of PG-13. This means the content may not be suitable for children under 13 years of age. Parental guidance is advised as the movie may contain material that is inappropriate for this age group.
Parental Guide:
Sex & Nudity:
- A man accuses a woman of getting a boob job. No nudity is shown.
- A woman is accused of being a porn star, but no nudity is shown.
- A man teases and seems homophobic towards a lesbian, trying to convince people to kill her so that her daughter can have a “normal life.”
Violence & Gore:
- There is mild violence with lots of death but no blood shown.
- People are continuously executed via a high-voltage shock.
Profanity:
- Moderate profanity with the F-word used 66 times, S-word used 34 times, GD used twice, and A-hole used.
- Overall, there is a lot of language throughout the movie.
Parents should consider the themes and content mentioned above when deciding if the movie is appropriate for their children. It is recommended to watch the movie first to determine if it aligns with their family values and the maturity level of their children.
📺 Streaming and where to watch
| streaming service | extra information |
|---|---|
| Netflix | Currently you are able to watch ‘Circle’ streaming on Netflix. |
| Tubi TV | Currently you are able to watch ‘Circle’ streaming on Tubi TV for free with ads. |
| Amazon Video | You can buy ‘Circle’ as download on Amazon Video. It is also possible to rent ‘Circle’ on Amazon Video online. |
| Apple TV | You can buy ‘Circle’ as download on Apple TV. It is also possible to rent ‘Circle’ on Apple TV online. |
❝ Quotes and Cult
The Possibilities Are Endless.
I am a believer in the perfectibility of human beings. At the Circle, we can finally realize our potential. When we are our best selves, there isn't a problem that we can't solve. We can cure any disease and we can end hunger. Imagine the human rights implications.
Without secrets, without the hoarding of knowledge and information, we can finally realize our potential.
When we are our best selves, the possibilities are endless.
The best people had made the best systems and the best systems had reaped funds, unlimited funds, that made possible this, the best place to work. And it was natural that it was so, Mae thought. Who else but utopians could make utopia?
Taking a walk is different from walking. How? A purpose. A destination. I don't understand. When you're walking, you're trying to get somewhere, you end up in a different place. When you're taking a walk, you always end up where you started.
The Pilot has just volunteered to die.
Well, this is gonna be a whole lot easier if we can get a few volunteers.
Easier for who? You?
Look, we gotta take control of this situation and this is the best way.
I mean, hey, if we're all gonna die, it might as well be on our own terms.
Yeah, yeah, that'll teach those ****in' aliens.
**** Y'ALL, MAN!!
It's not ****in' 1950, dude.
DO YOU WANNA SAVE HER OR NOT?!!!
One of us gets to live.
We all know that we can’t vote for ourselves. Well...what do you think happens when we get down to the last person left?
We're choosing who dies.
You don't have much time.
🤖Circle Reddit Talks
Summary of Reddit discussions on the movie “Circle” (2015):
General Impressions:
- Many Redditors praised the movie’s solid and contained story, comparing it favorably to classic Twilight Zone episodes.
- Others found the performances to be lacking, particularly in the first half of the movie.
Plot and Themes:
- The movie’s unique premise of 50 strangers forced to vote each other to death resonated with many viewers.
- Redditors engaged in lively discussions about the personal values and ideals that were tested in the film’s extreme scenario.
- Some viewers found the ending to be satisfying, while others felt it was too bleak or unrealistic.
Character Dynamics:
- Redditors debated the motivations and actions of the various characters, particularly the protagonist, Emma.
- Some viewers sympathized with Emma’s struggle to maintain her humanity, while others found her indecisiveness frustrating.
- The group dynamics within the circle were also a subject of discussion, with viewers noting the shifts in power and alliances.
Social Commentary:
- Many Redditors saw the movie as a commentary on modern society, highlighting the themes of mob mentality, prejudice, and the erosion of empathy.
- Some viewers found the movie to be too heavy-handed in its messaging, while others appreciated its thought-provoking nature.
Comparison to Other Works:
- Several Redditors drew comparisons between “Circle” and other films, such as “12 Angry Men” and “The Experiment”.
- Some viewers felt that “Circle” lacked the depth and character development of these earlier works, while others found it to be a worthy addition to the genre.
Overall, Redditors had mixed reactions to “Circle” (2015), with many praising its unique premise and thought-provoking themes, while others found it to be flawed in execution. The movie sparked lively discussions about human nature, social dynamics, and the consequences of extreme situations.
Top discussions
- https://www.reddit.com/r/horror/comments/199hhou/what_do_yall_think_of_the_movie_circle_2014/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/horror/comments/sj1r3b/anyone_here_seen_circle_2015_what_are_your/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/3pv34d/unofficial_discussion_circle_spoilers/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/3rkat7/hey_rmovies_we_are_aaron_hann_mario_miscione_and/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueFilm/comments/pwcazl/i_just_watched_circle_2015_and_it_is_a_surprise/
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What was the point of the movie Circle?
The Circle is basically an experiment that rewards the fittest with a chance of survival. It is based on Darwin’s theory of ‘Survival of the Fittest’. Interestingly, in the film the fitness of a person is defined by their wit rather than their physical strength.
What is the message in the movie The Circle?
“The Circle,” directed by James Ponsoldt, is a thriller about a tech company that is connecting everybody online and the implications that complete social transparency has on people, based off of a 2013 novel by David Eggers.
What happened at the end of the movie The Circle?
To the support of all in the audience, Mae leaves the meeting. It is clear that she believes in transparency and that no one should be exempt from hiding their secrets. The movie ends with Mae kayaking again and embracing drones around her. She has embraced transparency.
What is The Circle movie based on?
The film “The Circle,” based on the 2013 novel by Dave Eggers, portrays a fictional Silicon Valley with realistic themes and foreboding conclusions.
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- Cube: A group of strangers find themselves trapped in a maze of deadly traps and must work together to escape.
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- Exam: Candidates in a high-stakes exam room must navigate complex moral dilemmas to secure a coveted job.
- Devil: A group of strangers is trapped in an elevator, and it becomes clear that the Devil is among them.
- Saw: A serial killer puts his victims through intricate and deadly traps to test their will to live.
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