Every once and a while a film that speaks volumes about modern culture, films that speak directly to the youth, films that seem to have a strong understanding of America’s crumbling political infrastructure. Written and directed by Stefan C. Schaefer, ‘Confess’ is one of those films. It is a film that has strong opinions but never forces them on its audience.

The film provides an uncompromising look into underground digital activism through the eyes of Terell (Eugene Byrd), a hacker who lost his faith in the American dream. He takes jobs that give him access to the offices and homes of everyday citizens as well as people that have wronged him in the past. At first his efforts seem harmless, but after teaming up with passionate college student Olivia (Ali Larter) things start to spiral out of control. Instead of putting his adversaries in compromising positions he spawns a violent counter culture movement that is willing to kill to get their point across to the media starved public.

We live in a digital age where most people are more comfortable in chat rooms than out in public, where web cams and streaming video are commonplace. This is the world that Schaefer understands. He not only set his film in the digital wasteland but he shot it digitally instead of using film, a decision that this writer feels was integral in creating a look not unlike that of broadcast news. This look gave the film an underground feel and worked well with the subject matter.

I enjoyed this film; it felt fresh and got its message across without being to preachy. All of the actors were rock solid, and it was especially nice to see Eugene Byrd take the lead. He’s an actor with a strong range and carried this film like a pro. The music also fit very well within the context of the film.

The one negative thing that I have to say about this flick is that the story, while strong took a few predictable turns toward the end. As a whole though, ‘Confess’ was a smart, well done vision of where activism and digital counter culture could be headed. Politicians beware because you never know when the camera might be pointed at you.

So on August 28th pick up ‘Confess’ because it is a killer film.