Empathy, Inc.

Name: Empathy, Inc.
Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama, Thriller
Released: September 13, 2019
Duration: 97 min
Rating: 48
Cast: AJ Cedeno, Anthony Mangano, Brandon Engman, Charmaine Reedy, Eric Berryman

2019

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 4 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 27 Ratings

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8.1	User Score Universal acclaim based on 27 Ratings

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Empathy, Inc.

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Movie Details & Credits

Dark Star Pictures | Release Date: September 13, 2019 | Not Rated

Starring: AJ Cedeno, Anthony Mangano, Brandon Engman, Charmaine Reedy, Eric Berryman, Fenton Lawless, Jay Klaitz, Karen Lynn Gorney, Kathy Searle, Zack Robidas

Summary: Hotshot venture capitalist Joel has a multimillion-dollar deal go up in smoke, and he and his actress wife Jessica are forced to move in with her parents and start from scratch. At the lowest and most desperate moment in his life, Joel meets old friend Nicolaus and his business partner Lester, who are seeking investors in a new technologyHotshot venture capitalist Joel has a multimillion-dollar deal go up in smoke, and he and his actress wife Jessica are forced to move in with her parents and start from scratch. At the lowest and most desperate moment in his life, Joel meets old friend Nicolaus and his business partner Lester, who are seeking investors in a new technology known as XVR—Xtreme Virtual Reality—from their company Empathy, Inc., which is said to offer the most realistic and moving experiences for users by placing them in the lives of the less fortunate. Joel gets the startup its funds but soon discovers that the tech's creators have far more sinister uses in store for their creation and that the reality it provides its customers isn't virtual.… Expand

Director: Yedidya Gorsetman

Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Drama, Thriller

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 97 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Scott Wold

Sep 26, 2019

For a movie that initially tastes like an unexpected treat, it’s especially disappointing that Empathy, Inc.’s third act sours and leaves a bitter aftertaste. Read full review

Dennis Harvey

Sep 4, 2019

A clever indie suspense that draws on fantasy-tinged notions of virtual reality and identity exchange to create an ingenious tale more in the realm of an intimately-scaled thriller than sci-fi. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Aug 26, 2019

Empathy, Inc. has the compactness of a Poe short story or a “Twilight Zone” parable. But its third act surprises aren’t surprising at all. Suspense is created when the audience is a step ahead of the heroine/hero, not five steps ahead. Read full review

Michael Rechtshaffen

Sep 12, 2019

A killer concept falls frustratingly short of the finish line in Empathy, Inc., a dark morality tale that ambitiously casts contemporary technology in a throwback visual setting. Read full review

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User Reviews

lisskatherine3

Jan 27, 2020

Empathy Inc. provides a monochromatic heart-racing sci-fi thriller that keeps the audience guessing through every twist and turn. The film begins when venture capitalist Joel suffers the loss of his job and a multi-million-dollar deal leaving him with no way to provide support for him andEmpathy Inc. provides a monochromatic heart-racing sci-fi thriller that keeps the audience guessing through every twist and turn. The film begins when venture capitalist Joel suffers the loss of his job and a multi-million-dollar deal leaving him with no way to provide support for him and his wife Jessica (Kathy Searle). Distraught and desperate for money, Joel (Zack Robidas) agrees to invest into an upcoming company known as XVR (Extreme Virtual Reality) that gives users the opportunity to spend a day in the shoes of the less fortunate. This promising opportunity becomes more doubtful and suspicious throughout the film as XVR proves itself to cause more pain and anguish than the prosperity Joel anticipated. Director Yedidya Gorestman’s use of suspense, perspective, struggle, and horror will manipulate the audience’s ability to reason and will keep them asking questions from start to finish. This film is seamlessly directed and incorporates aspects such as romance, greed, and ambition displaying them in a way like never before. I highly suggest this film to viewers who want to be impacted and mind-blown in a way like never before!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

KareemTL

Sep 16, 2019

Director Yedidya Gorsetman brings film noir into the modern-day with his new Indie sci fi thriller Empathy Inc. The film gives an emotional thrill ride into the world of XVR. The Monochromatic film noir look embraces the world of the film. The black and white tone displaces you within theDirector Yedidya Gorsetman brings film noir into the modern-day with his new Indie sci fi thriller Empathy Inc. The film gives an emotional thrill ride into the world of XVR. The Monochromatic film noir look embraces the world of the film. The black and white tone displaces you within the world of XVR technology that brings out the film noir’s detective trope. This is best displayed by the protagonist played by Zack Robidas, trapping him in a technological body snatching. I recommend this film for the intense thrill ride.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

lizaduke93

Sep 18, 2019

Empathy Inc, a sci-fi thriller directed by Yediya Gorsetman, incites a dialogue about morality. Boundaries are pushed and lines are crossed when Joel (Zach Robidas) loses everything and is pushed into a corner when presented an opportunity to invest in a new form of virtual reality. From theEmpathy Inc, a sci-fi thriller directed by Yediya Gorsetman, incites a dialogue about morality. Boundaries are pushed and lines are crossed when Joel (Zach Robidas) loses everything and is pushed into a corner when presented an opportunity to invest in a new form of virtual reality. From the deception between characters, to the concept of becoming someone else in virtual reality or in real life, I felt like I was invited to think about how the events in this film reflect their own ideas of right and wrong. If you’re looking for a movie that is full of excitement yet still challenges you to reflect on a deeper concept, Empathy Inc definitely delivers.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

dillonhunter

Jan 21, 2020

In a film far different than what you may be used to, a Sci-Fi thriller with a twist of Horror, Empathy, Inc. does a great job of keeping the viewer interested in the wild ride that follows. I can’t overstate enough just how many twists and turns this movie has, it feels like a Twilight ZoneIn a film far different than what you may be used to, a Sci-Fi thriller with a twist of Horror, Empathy, Inc. does a great job of keeping the viewer interested in the wild ride that follows. I can’t overstate enough just how many twists and turns this movie has, it feels like a Twilight Zone episode, and could easily be a Black Mirror episode. Luckily director Yedidya Gorsetman does a wonderful job of directing Mark Leidner’s enthralling script which had me super invested in what comes next for main character Joel (Zack Robidas) throughout the whole film. When Joel runs into an old friend Nicholaus (Eric Berryman), and Nicholaus tells Joel about the opportunity to invest in his start-up which is making a revolutionary new technology known as XVR (Extreme Virtual Reality). The technology presents a similar issue that we may be facing in the near future about the laws of morality in a virtual world. From there the technology is revealed as something far more sinister than Joel had been sold, and the film shows how Joel tries to overcome the mistake he has made. I’d recommend streaming the movie on VOD when you have some free time.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ChristineBlue25

Jan 28, 2020

I am always looking for mind twister movies that use dialogue to foreshadow an overall theme of the movie. I recently watched an indie film called Empathy, Inc, a movie about a man joining a virtual reality startup company to soon realize the reality of it all is not virtual. The writer ofI am always looking for mind twister movies that use dialogue to foreshadow an overall theme of the movie. I recently watched an indie film called Empathy, Inc, a movie about a man joining a virtual reality startup company to soon realize the reality of it all is not virtual. The writer of this film, David Leinder, in my opinion did an excellent job adding dialogue in the film to unravel the storyline more. It made it fun to pick up on these sentences as they were usually added during a suspenseful scene. Towards the end of the film I picked up on a quote from Lester (Jay Klaitz) that hinted of where his company XVR all began. “When I was a kid, they told me we could be anything we wanted to be, I actually believed it”. This quote was so powerful to me during the climax of the film as it revealed the reason behind his wicked virtual reality company. I strongly advise watching this thrilling movie.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

tayharrison_

Jan 23, 2020

The new sci-fi thriller Empathy, Inc. exceeded my expectations in every possible way. Even with an independent budget, director Yedidya Gorsetman is still able to bring the film to life. The blend of a convincing set design with impressive performances generates outstandingly believableThe new sci-fi thriller Empathy, Inc. exceeded my expectations in every possible way. Even with an independent budget, director Yedidya Gorsetman is still able to bring the film to life. The blend of a convincing set design with impressive performances generates outstandingly believable visuals, as well an established concept of the film. These two elements work hand in hand to offer us an immersive experience into the life of venture capitalist, Joel (Zack Robidas). After uprooting his life in the west coast, Joel runs into an intriguing opportunity involving VR technology that allows you to swap places with the less fortunate. The prop design used to portray this unique tech was a selling point for me in the film. Gorsetman’s vision is exhibited clearly and showcases his ability to craft a quality film, provided a low budget. Now that this film is on streaming platforms, it is definitely worth seeing what this film has to offer!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

claudguillermo

Jan 24, 2020

Personally, I find that inspiration is a hard subject to tackle, as I for the most part find it very difficult to trace my own influences, even if they are obviously there. I believe the film Empathy Inc. does a fantastic job of understanding its influences, but also not honing too much onPersonally, I find that inspiration is a hard subject to tackle, as I for the most part find it very difficult to trace my own influences, even if they are obviously there. I believe the film Empathy Inc. does a fantastic job of understanding its influences, but also not honing too much on it where it leaves more to be desired. I often think about each piece of music, book, film I’ve seen or even situation that I have lived in, manifest itself in the same orbit in my mind, where it will get obscured and torn apart. I believe that writer Mark Leidner does a fantastic job of blending in his influences in an original and easily understandable way. He takes his influences like a lyric writer, gaining from language whether it is a specific way to create a sentence for example. The film at first glance seems as if it will be just another sci-fi noir story, but what Leidner does fantastically is offer a bigger scope of each character. The way some scenes are written made me feel quite poignant as I empathized with these flawed, but relatable characters. His story left me on the edge of my seat with the small cast all acquitting themselves well, as the suspense began to rise. I believe the film did a fantastic job of poetically ending the film with such high suspense in a creative and satisfying way. If you are looking for a film that tells a classic crime tale but in an original way I’d highly suggest watching this.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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