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ATM (2012)
Not Amazing, But Better Than I Was Told
I'm not going to lie--I was nervous going into this film. Not because of a disdain for horror, mind you, I'm a fan of the genre, but rather due to the overwhelming amount of 1 and 2 star reviews the film has, combined with the appalling critical reviews of the film.
I can safely say I'm glad I checked this film out, though.
I'd be lying if I said the film didn't have a plot hole or two; or even moments that are downright stupid for that matter, but I enjoy it. One of the joys of being a horror fan is the diversity available to viewers. You're never locked in to what you have to watch, but rather what you want to watch.
This film isn't "A Nightmare on Elm Street" by any stretch. This film falls more in-line with "Nightmare on Elm Street 2"--meaning it has a lot of promise but fails the execution in various ways.
Being someone who grew up watching Josh Peck in programs like "The Amanda Show" and "Drake & Josh", I was expecting a standard performance by Peck. I was rather pleased when I discovered that in this film he curses, smokes, and drinks; a far cry from his early days.
As for plot, the story is simple: three people are in ATM booth when a psychopath traps and tortures them. It doesn't cover any ground that "Phonebooth" didn't already tread, just with a campier and more horrific execution. Going into this film expecting it to be a masterpiece on par with the works of Hitchcock or Craven will leave you sorely disappointed. You'll find a much more enjoyable time can be spent with the film when it's properly acknowledged as a fun, slightly campy, yet dark and serious horror flick.