"Compliance" (2012): Blind Obedience to a Voice Disembodied

When the fast Food restaurant manager's boyfriend gets involved in the young girl's "criminal interrogation" toward the end of the movie, matters spiral way over the top, landing firmly in the realm of the ridiculous.  Still, even these preposterous scenes invite speculation in these terms:  If one is essentially given free reign from what they believe to be an authoritative source (a cop investigating a theft case) will they obediently do as instructed?  No matter what they are asked to do?  These deeply unsettling scenes certainly stretch this concept completely out of proportion.  However, if the individual being "ordered" to carry out these outrageous acts is weak of mind and character (and drunk, as this guy was) it may, may I emphasize, not be entirely out of the question.

What makes this effort all the more compelling, and downright alarming, is that "Compliance" is based on actual events.  And while certainly over-blown for dramatic effect, research reveals that much of what is depicted in this film more or less happened in fast food joints throughout America in relatively recent years.  Authorities eventually tracked down and arrested the sick cretin they believed was responsible for these twisted hoaxes.  But the man was never brought to trial, as both the prosecution and the defense counsels agreed that he would never be convicted of his alleged crimes.  These fake police calls stopped after the suspect was taken into custody.  

There have been no reports of any similar such disturbing incidents since.

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JOHN SMISTAD, "THE QUICK FLICK CRITIC", talks Steven Spielberg's Highway of Horrors Classic "DUEL"!! - YouTube