Control Factor (2003)

Affable everyman insurance agent Lance Bishop (a lively and engaging performance by Adam Baldwin) discovers that he's the unwitting subject of a nefarious mind control experiment being conducted by some shady secret government agency. Assisted by angry ghetto resident Reggie (a typically fine Tony Todd), Lance becomes determined to expose said evil plot to a blithely ignorant and apathetic outside world. Director Nelson McCormick, working from an absorbing script by John Dombrow, relates the compelling story at a constant brisk pace, builds a good deal of tension, creates a suitably edgy and paranoid atmosphere, and further spruces things up with a galvanizing flashy and glossy hopped-up style. Better still, there's a strong and provocative central theme about fate vs. free will, the narrative delivers a couple of genuinely surprising twists, and the whole thing bravely concludes on an effectively ambiguous and ambivalent note. The sturdy acting helps a lot: Baldwin makes for a sympathetic protagonist, Todd does well in his role, Elizabeth Berkley is likewise excellent as Lance's lovely wife Karen, Conrad Dunn contributes a memorably slimy turn as slippery agent Thrillkill, and John Neville has a neat bit as the sinister director who runs the operation. Rudolf Blahacek's slick, fluid, and agile cinematography gives the picture impressively sleek look. Pete Kreser's moody and elegant score also hits the spot. A nice little movie.

I just couldn't find it in myself to be even the slightest bit touched or intrigued by this movie.It's plain ridiculous,poorly made(no one has to add it had a tight budget,that's pretty obvious) and lacks nerve. The basic plot is based on the average conspiracy theory,a man living a seemingly good and fulfilling life with a well-paid job,pretty wife and a roomy,probably pricey apartment suddenly realize nothing is what he believed it was. After a particularly traumatic incident at work,he takes the day after off to recuperate. Then things happen,in short.He must solve the mystery,do something,escape,find out what's going on.Voices appear to be talking to him from inside his head,manipulating him to consider actions he never dreamed of performing.Who's behind this? Or is he just becoming mentally ill?Well...I don't know what else to say about it.I just found myself sneering when watching it,no shivers,tension or excitement whatsoever. Can't recommend it to anyone looking for something else than a good laugh,well maybe if you're suffering from insomnia and the pills your doc prescribed won't work.I can appreciate a good B-movie,but this just isn't.

Control Factor had great acting, not just the main players, but the supporting cast as well. And in spite of the obvious fact that this movie contained elements of various other popular movies, like the Matrix, and even the really great movie Total Recall, it still stood on its own. I had to laugh at some the gimmicks like the baseball caps the protagonists used to repel the government transmitted mind controlling radio waves. THAT brought to mind the fabled tin foil helmets that unstable people are alleged to wear to prevent aliens from mentally controlling them. I watched this movie twice, mainly to enjoy it and it's credibility, but also to concentrate on the technical aspects, how the director managed to keep the several plot lines in operation simultaneously, and still maintain the viewers interest. Adam Baldwin was really gave a great performance, advancing from innocent bystander, to confused victim, and finally to effective leader. I have recommended this movie to all my friends, and will continue to do so. Controlling Factor was to my mind a much better action, sci-fi, and psychological thriller than many other more popular and probably more expensively produced movies.

I guess I've always been a sucker for movies like the Matrix where everything's weird and you don't know what's going on. This seems to be an attempt at that and for the most part it works. I can't say I'm very familiar with Adam Baldwin (is he a Baldwin brother?) but he seemed to do a good job with his part. And I was surprised to see Elizabeth Berkeley actually get to act for a change and not just take off her clothes. I guess they didn't have a very big budget because it isn't really about action as much as figuring out what's going on. There's a nice twist about midway into it that caught me totally by surprise. Also an interesting ending that - gasp! - tries to say something.