31 Days of Dread--Day 20

Circle; 2015; written and directed by Aaron Hann and Mario Miscione

Circle is one of those films in which the less you know about it ahead of time, the more you'll enjoy it.

Seriously. Stop reading right now, pull it up on Netflix, and thank me later.

No? Okay. Here's a bit more info.

Circle is an incredibly tense science fiction thriller in which 50 strangers find themselves playing a hellish "game"--though game is probably the wrong word for the life and death competition they engage in. 

This simple premise allows the filmmakers to deftly address some pretty heavy topics. Racism, sexism, ageism, classicism, homophobia, crime, punishment, and the dirty politics of survival are all laid bare and pretty much rubbed raw.

That might make Circle sound a bit preachy, though it's anything but. The film is a fleet 87 minutes, and chances are you won't relax during a single one. The talented cast delivers some amazing performances, and the fact that they're all unknowns only increases the film's sense of realism and anxiety.

Still not convinced? Then do me a favor. Watch just the first three minutes, and see if you can turn it off.

Circle is available on Netflix and streaming rental.