What store doesn't take Plastic?!

I could remember a time when killers in films didn't require a whole lot of explaining, can you? (I suppose if you can milk a franchise, why not?) We didn't need a shitty prequel or sub par sequel or even a we-are-guaranteed-to-make-profit-just-look-at-the-title remake/reboot explaining how somebody stole their box of Crayolas in kindergarten. Sure, generally viewers do not mind a few minutes of back story, but nothing of significance that hinders the film. (Rob Zombie's Halloween, although a good film, is a recent example of this, in my opinion anyway.) Anyways, now that my mini-rant is out of the way, I present, ATM. (No, sadly it isn't a porno.) ATM is one of those films that could have had based on a true story all over the box, and might have been believable. (I say that loosely, but you never know. Stranger things have happened.)



The story opens itself at a typical office cubicle dribble Christmas party. One bloke has taken a liking to a lady who is leaving to company soon. After using amazing wordplay to convince her to take a ride from him back home, his very annoying (can't stress this word enough) friend needs a ride back. Now this mutha fucka knows that he likes this girl, but proceeds to ask for a ride back home anyway. 20 minutes the other fuckin' direction, by the way! Pure hate/jealously. Along the way home the annoying friend wants to stop to the ATM because the diner he wants to stop by doesn't take plastic. When they stop there they are cornered by a menacing guy in a Eskimo jacket. This killer gives no motive other than his victims being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Granted, who knows how any of us would react to a fight or flight situation, but due to the fact that they couldn't flee anywhere, I find it slightly annoying that the characters didn't put up more of a fight. Yeah, I know that we all cannot be Chuck Norris or LL Cool J, but come on!



In conclusion: some tense elements in this film work, but overall, you have seen this before, and the ending you just feel cheated. I applaud the gritty style and creating a film that, sadly, could happen to anybody. I also am extremely grateful that this wasn't another "found footage" bullshit film. (I could easily imagine an alternate script containing his annoying friend hoisting a camera.) Alas, sadly though, ATM is not a porno.

5/10