Spain, 2004
Director: Brad Anderson
Score: ***

“Are you ok?”
“Don’t I look ok?”
The opening dialogue between Trevor Reznick (Christian Bale, who shed some 50 pounds for this role) and his girlfriend indicates that Trevor is oblivious of what is going on around him.  He is emaciated, pale and suffers from insomnia. hings get worse, especially at his job as a machinist. While daydreaming, he causes a co-worker to lose his hand. Believing that his co-workers are plotting against him, he goes berserk until the truth dawns upon him.

An interesting though not novel plot! Though films like MEMENTO have dealt with similar issues, director Brad Anderson (SESSION 9) and writer Scott Kosar (THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE remake) still creates suspense, scares with a certain tenderness. Trevor finds comfort in the arms of Stevie (Jennifer Jason Leigh), the hooker with a heart of gold. Cinematographer Xavier Giménez shot most of the scenes in a greyish blue depicting a pessimistic world where the sun never shines. But Anderson’s film is not without its humour. Trevor is constantly reading Dostoevsky’s THE IDIOT. The dead pan Kafka-ish humour and look works well with the plot.

Anderson’s MACHINIST succeeds as a chilling, gripping and satisfying late night flick.

Review by Gilbert Seah.