“Human Resources,” a 2015 horror film directed by Keil Troisi, presents a ghost story with a modern, social-justice twist. Set against the backdrop of corporate exploitation, the film attempts to blend horror and social commentary, though with uneven results. This review will delve into the film’s creation, narrative, critical reception, and overall impact.
Production History: A Shoestring Budget with Big Ideas
“Human Resources” was the debut feature film for director Keil Troisi, who also co-wrote the screenplay. Troisi, known for his involvement with the culture-jamming group The Yes Men, aimed to create a conceptually and visually rich movie on a shoestring budget. The film was completed after three years of production and partnered with Motion Picture Exchange for distribution. Shot with a limited budget of $15,000 , “Human Resources” showcases the director’s ambition to tackle themes of corporate greed and its human cost within the horror genre.
Plot Analysis: Ghosts of Corporate Greed
The film follows a young woman who starts a new job in a skyscraper, only to discover that the building is haunted by the victims of the corporation’s ruthless pursuit of profit. Unable to ignore the injustices embodied by the disembodied, she sets out to reveal the truth and stop her bosses before their seemingly benign business operations kill again. The narrative attempts to critique the dehumanizing aspects of corporate work environments, where employees can feel like mere “human resources”. However, some critics found the pacing inconsistent, particularly in the meandering first act, and the plot a “hodgepodge of happenings”.
Character Study: Archetypes of Exploitation
The characters in “Human Resources” tend to serve more as archetypes within the film’s thematic framework rather than fully developed individuals. The protagonist, a young woman, represents the moral compass and the desire for justice against corporate wrongdoing. The bosses embody the cold, profit-driven nature of corporations, seemingly oblivious to the human consequences of their actions. A disgruntled employee might represent the disillusionment and frustration of those working within such systems. While the film aims to highlight the human cost of corporate decisions, some reviews noted that the characters lacked depth and sufficient development to fully resonate with the audience.
Cinematography and Visual Style: Eerie Atmosphere on a Budget
Despite its limited budget, “Human Resources” employs a stylized aesthetic with a notable effort in character and environment design. The cinematography, credited to Cooper Lichacz , is highlighted for elevating the film’s look, utilizing red filters and over-achieving framing to create an eerie atmosphere fitting for the horror genre. The visual style contributes to the film’s attempt to blend the mundane reality of a hardware store with the supernatural elements of the haunting.
Critical Reception: Intriguing Ideas, Flawed Execution
“Human Resources” garnered mixed reviews from critics. While some praised its intriguing concept and ambition to tackle social issues within a horror context , others found the execution lacking. The script was described as sloppy and not caring to flesh out its characters. The tonal shifts between horror and mystery were also criticized as inelegant. One review noted that the film had promise but suffered from abysmal pacing and dismissible performances. However, director Braden Swope’s potential was acknowledged, with some critics expressing interest in his future projects.
Box Office Performance: Limited Release
As an independent film with a very small budget, “Human Resources” likely had a limited theatrical release and did not generate significant box office revenue. Information regarding its specific box office earnings is not readily available in the provided research. Its primary distribution would likely have been through film festivals and potentially streaming or digital platforms.
Audience Reception and Popularity: Genre Festival Favorite
While specific audience scores from major platforms like IMDb, TMDB, or Rotten Tomatoes are not available in the research, “Human Resources” is mentioned as being an audience favorite across the genre-festival circuit. This suggests that it found a niche audience within the independent horror film community who appreciated its themes and low-budget approach.
Conclusion: A Debut with Potential
“Human Resources” presents an ambitious blend of corporate satire and supernatural horror, tackling relevant themes of worker exploitation and the consequences of prioritizing profit over people. While director Keil Troisi demonstrates a strong visual style and an intriguing concept, the film ultimately suffers from uneven pacing, underdeveloped characters, and a somewhat muddled narrative. Despite these flaws, its recognition within the genre festival circuit suggests that it resonated with a specific audience. As a debut feature made on a shoestring budget, “Human Resources” showcases Troisi’s potential and his willingness to experiment with genre conventions, making him a filmmaker to watch in the future.