Today’s quick review: I.T. Mike Regan (Pierce Brosnan), an avionics CEO on the verge of taking his company public, has his life turned upside down when Ed Porter (James Frecheville), an IT specialist for his company, takes an unhealthy interest in Mike and his family. Ed uses his technical prowess to torment the Regans, driving Mike to desperate measures to stop him.
I.T. is a suspense movie that pits a desperate businessman against a tech-savvy stalker. The movie taps into fears about privacy, the ubiquity of technology, and what happens when that power falls into the wrong hands. However, the movie’s unlikable characters and poor plot mechanics keep it from making anything of these themes. I.T.’s highlights are a decent performance from Pierce Brosnan and a disturbing tone, with little substance to back them up.
I.T.’s core problem is its lack of interaction. Ed has the ability to spy on the Regans, forge medical records, and control their home remotely. Mike can do nothing to stop him. The movie gets some mileage out of Ed’s unsettling behavior and Mike’s impotent threats, but I.T. simply does not have the back-and-forth it needs to hook the viewer’s interest.
I.T. shows enough competence that the right viewer might get something out of it, but most people would be better off looking for a proper suspense movie or thriller. Give it a shot only if you are intrigued by stalking or social awkwardness and have lax standards when it comes to plot. For a suspenseful crime drama about stalking gone wrong, check out Following.
5.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 5.5 for a decent premise and uncompelling drama.