Empathy, Inc. Review

3 star intense virtual reality thriller.

Empathy, Inc. is written by Mark Leidner (Same Boat) and directed by Yedidya Gorsetman (Jammed). It is presented here on Special Edition Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video.

“Of all the different people we are inside, who are we to be true to?”

Joel (Zack Robidas – Sorry For Your Loss, Friends From College) is an ambitious venture capitalist, who has just fallen foul of a scam pulled off by his business partner as his supposed multi million dollar deal turns into a public scandal.

To escape from the spotlight, he and his wife Jessica (Kathy Searle – Love in Kilnerry, LI Divas) have moved away from Silicon Valley and moved in with her overbearing and meddlesome parents.

Her father Wade (Fenton Lawless – Stranger Things, Gotham) and mother Vicky (Charmaine Reedy – Silver Tongues) are both sure they know what’s best for the couple. After an argument over dinner, Joel storms out and heads off to the local bar.

While there, he bumps into an old friend Nicholaus (Eric Berryman – Bonding, Marriage Story), who tells him that he and his associate Lester (Jay Klaitz – A Little Help) have a radical start-up company called Empathy, Inc. It’s an interesting proposition, to use Extreme Virtual Reality to offer their rich clientele the opportunity to experience how it feels to be under privileged, thus appreciating their own lives more.

Against their advice, Joel tries out the experience and finds it hyper-realistic. He’s very impressed and wastes no time in persuading his in-laws to invest their life savings. It soon becomes apparent however, that something far more sinister is at play.

Empathy, Inc. is a very interesting idea for a story. It’s a good solid sci-fi concept and a well written thriller with some very surprising twists, which builds the tension admirably. It is dark and brooding and all very sinister indeed. I didn’t feel the black and white filming helped, it just comes across as a little pretentious and I think the story would have been better served by a little colour, but each to their own.

The main problem with this film is the third act, after getting off to a great start it degenerates into a far fetched and bizarre caper which wouldn’t feel out of place in a Marx Brothers film. Strange ending notwithstanding this is an enjoyable film, which does bring something new to the genre and is still worth adding to your collection.

“There is one who pretends to be rich and has nothing. There is one who pretends to be poor and has great wealth.”

Empathy, Inc. is available to buy now on Blu-ray and Digital HD.

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS

 

• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
• Original LPCM Stereo 2.0 Audio soundtrack
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• New audio commentary with director Yedidya Gorsetman and writer Mark Leidner
• Behind the scenes 360 (degrees)
• Deleted Scenes
• International Trailer
• UK Trailer
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Chris Barnes Brutal Posters
• FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Collectors’ booklet featuring new writing on the film by Brian Tallerico