I blame the economy. Housing prices are stagnant, unemployment is strangling the lower classes and now you can’t even get money out of the “ATM” without a mysterious killer trying to disconnect your head from your neck. Just use credit cards people!! That’s not real money anyway.
We start things out at a Christmas party at an investment firm located somewhere in the blustery mid-west (they might have told us where the film takes place, but I missed it). Timid, diffident banker David (Brian Geraghty) is experiencing a bad day having just learned that his poor decisions have cost one of his clients half of their 401K. And it’s Christmas. Not only that but office cutie, Emily (Alice Eve), is leaving for greener pastures. David has a little crush on Emily and he must cobble the nerve to ask her on a date. If not now, when? The two share an awkward exchange outside the party and finally Emily concedes to let David take her home for it’s far too cold to wait around for a cab. Then David’s obnoxious friend Corey (Josh Peck) announces that he too needs a ride home and the third-wheelery begins to ruin the evening.
On the way to Corey’s pad, it is announced that an ATM stop is necessary. The three stop at a cash-dispensing booth in the middle of nothing and all end up in the small confines before they realize they are not alone. There is a man in a winter jacket waiting in the darkness. He quickly lets it be known that he is a touch off as there is some startling face-smashing that announces intent. Now our unlucky trio are trapped in a 10×10 booth, the outside temperature dropping below zero and sunrise hours away.
“ATM” is written by Chris Sparling who gave us the effective “Buried” back in 2010. Considering the premise here and that that film consisted of Ryan Reynolds trapped in a box for it’s entire running time let us declare that Mr. Sparling enjoys his suspense found in tight places. “ATM” is intriguing and taut, with a sparse and quick 90 minute running time.
The three actors sell the situation well. Geraghty is solid as David and Peck slides in enough cocky attitude to make Corey get on the nerves proper. Alice Eve is the most recognizable of the cast with high profile turns in “She’s Out of Your League” and the Cusack-as-Poe debacle “The Raven”. Here she gives a genuine performance as she makes Emily unable to adapt to the terrible situation. She spends much of the film curled in the corner, screaming and crying. I’m pretty sure this is how I would deal with the situation.
The film’s final moments are polarizing and you will either swallow the purposed explanation or roll your eyes. I found it disappointing and it helps if you don’t think about it too hard.