The subject of control from which this film holds its name is one certainly set for scrutiny. What happens when control is taken away from us? Can the shift of balance be pulled back in our favour when all hope seems lost?

This is the dilemma that British Home Secretary Stella Simons (Lauren Metcalfe) faces when she steps into a self-driving car to escort the Prime Minister’s daughter home, only for it to be hijacked by a mysterious assailant (Kevin Spacey) who is calling all the shots and seems to know everything about her.

It’s the type of story that has been told before, with our protagonist held against their will and directed by a human voice, such as Phone Booth and Buried, or even more so in comparison to Haritz Zubillaga’s feature The Glass Coffin starring Paola Bontempi. In the latter’s case it is done remarkably well, primarily due to Bontempi’s captivating performance. Unfortunately, this can’t be said about Metcalfe’s portrayal, which is significantly underwhelming. It’s a hard task to carry a movie at the best of times, something that she struggles with throughout, but it’s emphasised more so by the voice on the other end belongs to someone of high calibre, Kevin Spacey.

And there’s the elephant in the room of course when it comes to Kevin Spacey, who was at the height of his profession and sexual misconduct allegations that have surrounded him. There’s no doubt about the extent of Spacey’s talent as an actor, but his name will forever be marred by the indictments that were laid against him. So when it comes to Control, the lines between fiction and reality are blurred, especially when it comes to Spacey’s character who at one point blazes at the lack of direction and support against the British Government after spending most of his life working there. It is this murky area that unfortunately takes you out of the picture. It is clearly an area close to home and his need to proclaim his innocence and get back to doing what he does best is on show here, albeit an incorporeal one. In spite of this, Spacey is still the best thing about this movie, by a country mile. His presence and intonations, no matter how slight, lift off the screen and provide what feels like some meaning to what is essentially a pointless enterprise by all else involved.

The Prognosis:

Spacey headlines this feature for good reason. He is the only decent thing about it. His charisma is one that can elevate any script, but as he only provides the voice to the antagonist, the rest of the movie relies on that of his counterpart. This is part of Control’s downfall along with a tired and predictable plot that has you envying the Prime Minister’s daughter who remains passed out in the back seat of the car for the majority of its running time.

• Saul Muerte

Control is available to available to watch on home entertainment from April 2024 thanks to Eagle Entertainment.