Imagine, if you will, a future in which the concept of automobile safety has gone to the extreme - the extreme of utilizing human crash test dummies! Horrifying, yes? Australian film maker Sam Voutas takes us on a journey into the world of Sala, reluctant dummy for the monolithic auto giant Motorkore in the stark and terrifying futuristic thriller CRASH TEST.

Over a slow motion montage, CRASH TEST opens with a voice-over explaining the need for car safety, because cars can have infinite potentials (unlike trains, which are confined to their tracks), the idea of safety has become an obsession. Motorkore, the giant among car companies, has decided to insure the safety of its customers by any means necessary. On a lonely stretch of road, a sullen man is stalked by a car and brutally run down. The driver, who is mute but can communicate via a "voice speller", calls a mysterious bandaged woman to report his dastardly deed. But his victim is not road kill, and attacks the brute. Successfully gaining control of the car, our protagonist makes his way to his girlfriend's home. Initially freaked, Abby - the girl - realizes the victim is her long missing boyfriend Sala, who tells her his tragic tale of kidnapping and psychological torture...

Flashback - Sala and Abby celebrate the completion of his first book. However, there are forces that aren't pleased with his work. It seems Sala has uncovered evidence that Motorkore has used corpses as crash test dummies, and they don't want Sala to expose their secret. CEO Mr. Geeds makes Sala a large financial offer to quash the book, but our intrepid hero refuses. Therefore, Mr. Geeds tells his drone to "get the idiot." Sala is beaten by the mute Limbo Jack and taken to an operating room, where sinister surgery takes place. Upon waking up, Sala is informed he now works for Motorkore by the bandaged woman, who now looks exactly like Abby. Her name, however, is Valeriy, and she is the head of Motorkore's crash test division. She informs Sala that he is now a human crash test dummy. To make an imperfect product perfect, Motorkore is searching for the ultimate driving form - and that means they need Sala to test crash their vehicles. Confined to a room, Sala, now known as 171096, is counseled by an older CTD, number 47109, who has been crashing vehicles for over 20 years. He tells Sal - 171096 - that Motorkore will use physical and psychological torture to break him down and reform him as their pawn - he needs to hold on to his memories to keep from being completely dehumanized. Sure enough, Valeriy uses many cruel mental tricks forcing 171096 to do her bidding, like running into walls and crashing into trees. If he refuses, Jack is there at Valeriy's side to manhandle the poor sap into compliance. Even with 47109's friendship and advice, can 171096 manage not to lose who he really is as the tests continue? When Motorkore exacts a harsh penalty for 171096's defiance, can he hold on to his sanity? And can 171096 perform the perfect crash in order to have his revenge and free himself, or will Motorkore have the last laugh?

Bleak and somber, CRASH TEST is a thought-provoking look at the obsessive lengths that are gone to in the name of 'safety' or the 'public good.' Motorkore's use (and abuse) of its human dummies for the sake of their customers reflects the moral vacuum that many corporations seem to function in; how many of us work in companies and feel they treat us as automatons and not real people? All in the name of profits... Writer/director Sam Voutas shoots the film in an eerie overexposed/washed out tone, reinforcing the theme of dehumanization by draining the color from the scene. It feels cold and mechanical, just like the dummy Sala is becoming. The various tortures used to break down Sala's identity are terrifying in their simplicity, as well as their effectiveness in making a man less than he is. The minimal cast give overall fine performances; the audience really connects with the character of Sala and his plight (and ultimate perseverance) as well as the older CTD 47109, who's sage advice about holding on to one's self should be considered by all us worker drones. The picture quality changes from time to time - there seems to be both filmed and video scenes, but this is not a detriment. It only reinforces the 'man is a machine' theme. The audio is fine, and music is used effectively. I did find some of the switches of time from flashback to 'now' to be confusing, but this may have been deliberate to keep the audience off balance. Also, the editing could have been a little tighter; there is noticeable lag in some scenes between shots. But who am I to quibble with such an engaging and original film? CRASH TEST is by no means an easy film to watch, with its dehumanizing and nihilistic themes, but the trip is worth it.

CRASH TEST has won many awards on the independent film circuit, and rightly so. Stark and sullen, the audience learns along with Sala that sometimes you have to lose everything to find one's true self. A triumph of the spirit, CRASH TEST takes us down the long hard road, so wear your seatbelt and prepare to become one with the wall....

For more info visit Crash Test online here.