New Guy

Running time: 84 mins

Being the "new hire" at a job is an all-too-familiar experience for anyone, but Gregg's first day is, in a word: strange. He quickly learns which bathroom stall leaks water on his head, organizes his Post-It-filled desk, and has awkwardly funny exchanges with his co-workers. To complicate matters, however, the mysterious remote control car zooming through the office and the vague horror stories about the man who used to have his job make the day seem a bit too out of the ordinary for a 9 to 5. Events take a drastic turn when Gregg accidentally gets locked in the office at night. He soon realizes that all is not well in this corporate wasteland, as he is pursued by a troublesome janitor, the menacing toy car, and a presence far darker than Gregg could ever imagine-one that is getting closer with each second Gregg remains trapped. Few films find intrigue in such a mundane setting as a cubicle-filled office, and even fewer offer the experience that director Bilge Ebiri's New Guy sets forth. Cleverly blending the comedy of Office Space with the suspense of a Roman Polanski film, Ebiri makes a bold statement about the true nature of office politics. - Jason Martin