Not Safe for Work Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A legal assistant gets fired and then immediately gets locked in the office building with a super calm hitman because corporate espionage is way more dangerous than being unemployed.

🍿 Not Safe for Work: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Paralegal’s Bad Day

Tom Miller is an ambitious paralegal at a powerful law firm, Rosen, Byres and Emmerich. The firm is handling two major cases: one against a large pharmaceutical company (Hartcourt vs. Denning Pharmaceutical) and another involving a mafia family (Gambizzi Case). Tom secretly dates Anna, a colleague.

Fired and Suspicious

On the eve of the Hartcourt case judgment, Tom gets fired by a senior partner for snooping into the Gambizzi case. As he leaves the building with Anna, he witnesses a strange exchange in the lobby: one man leaves a suitcase, and another picks it up and heads to the 34th floor. Curiosity piqued, Tom decides to follow.

Trapped with a Killer (Spoilers)

Tom follows the man to the 34th floor and realizes he is a hitman when he witnesses him commit a murder. His access card is deactivated, trapping him on the isolated floor with the professional killer. Tom must now evade the killer and figure out why he is there, while also trying to protect anyone else still working late.

Cat and Mouse in the Office (Spoilers)

A deadly game of cat and mouse ensues throughout the office floor. The killer systematically searches for any remaining witnesses, disabling communications and access points. Tom uses his knowledge of the office layout and building systems to hide and try to find a way to escape or get help.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Thomas Miller (Max Minghella): A recently fired legal assistant who becomes trapped in his office building and hunted by a killer.
• Killer (JJ Feild): A professional hit-man systematically eliminating targets inside the law firm after hours.
• Anna Newton (Eloise Mumford): Thomas’s girlfriend and co-worker who is also in the office building when the killer arrives.
• Alan Z. Emmerich (Christian Clemenson): A senior partner at the law firm who fires Thomas and is also present in the building during the lockdown.
• Barney the Security Guard (Frankie J. Allison): One of the building’s security personnel who may encounter the killer or the trapped employees.
• Fernando the Janitor (Alejandro Patiño): A janitor working late in the building who may become entangled in the killer’s rampage.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Thomas Miller: “Gotcha!” – Said by Thomas at a point during his cat-and-mouse game with the killer, suggesting a moment of gaining the upper hand or insight.
• Killer: “Three, plus the one we talked about.” – Spoken by the killer over the phone, chillingly confirming the number of victims and referencing a specific target.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $2 million
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 Not Safe for Work Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went into ‘Not Safe for Work’ expecting a pretty standard ‘guy trapped with killer’ flick, but honestly, it grabbed me more than I thought it would. Max Minghella feels genuinely out of his depth at first, which makes his later resourcefulness satisfying to watch. JJ Feild as the killer is just unsettlingly calm – that quiet menace works really well and makes the chase feel truly dangerous. I really liked how they used the office setting. It felt like a real place, and watching him navigate the cubicles and hallways, trying to find hiding spots or ways to mess with the killer, was tense. There’s a moment involving a server room that had me holding my breath! Yeah, there were a couple of logic jumps, like the phone thing mentioned in the trivia, but the pacing was so tight at only 74 minutes that I didn’t really dwell on them. It’s not a perfect movie, and the ending might not satisfy everyone, but I found it a surprisingly solid, efficient thriller that kept me hooked the whole way through. Definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for something low-key but suspenseful.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of suspense thrillers”
  • “Viewers who enjoy contained or single-location movies”
  • “Those looking for a cat-and-mouse style plot”
  • “Audiences interested in corporate conspiracy themes”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence (some deaths shown or implied, but not excessively gory)”
  • “Suspense and intense situations”
  • “Moderate language (some reviews note strong language, though not pervasive)”

Professional Reviews

• Faris Reel: “Director Joe Johnston delivers a taut, low-budget thriller reminiscent of ‘Die Hard’ but on a smaller scale. Max Minghella is compelling as the trapped office worker, and JJ Feild delivers a chilling performance as the relentless killer. While it bypassed a theatrical release, it’s a surprisingly captivating watch that turns an ordinary office into a twisted game of cat and mouse.
• Opinion as a Moviefreak: “This straightforward thriller keeps things simple and focused, running just over 70 minutes. While it lacks high-octane action or deep dialogue, the cat-and-mouse dynamic within the office building is surprisingly engaging. JJ Feild’s cold-blooded killer stands out. It’s a watchable low-budget effort that doesn’t overstay its welcome, provided you temper expectations for complex twists or intense thrills.
• IMDb Reviewer: “Much better than its simple summary suggests, ‘Not Safe for Work’ is a well-executed, tense thriller with a darker, conspiratorial edge. Director Joe Johnston wisely avoids gratuitous violence, focusing instead on the suspense of the situation and the ‘why’ behind the killing. Despite a minor plot point that felt missed, the film is smart, believable, and proves you don’t need a massive budget or stars for a good movie.

Audience Reactions

Many viewers were surprised by how tense and engaging the low-budget thriller turned out to be.: The cat-and-mouse game within the office building was effective and suspenseful. JJ Feild’s performance as the calm, methodical killer received significant praise. The short runtime was seen as a positive, keeping the story focused and fast-paced.

The film successfully builds tension using the familiar office environment.: Audiences appreciated the lack of excessive gore and reliance on suspense. Max Minghella’s portrayal of the ‘everyman’ protagonist was generally well-received. The corporate conspiracy angle added an interesting layer for many viewers.

Overall Consensus: A surprisingly effective low-budget office thriller, praised for its tension, pacing, and central performances, though some found plot holes and the ending debatable.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The movie was originally scheduled for release in 2012 but was later moved to a direct-to-DVD/VOD release.”
• “Despite being produced by Blumhouse Productions, known for horror, this film is primarily a thriller.”
• “The film has a relatively short runtime of 74 minutes, contributing to its fast pace according to some reviews.”

🖥️ How to Watch Not Safe for Work?

‘Not Safe for Work’ is typically available for digital rental or purchase on major platforms. You can find it on services like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu, and others, allowing you to watch it on demand.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Not Safe for Work, you might like these similar films:

• Die Hard (1988): A classic example of the ‘one person trapped in a building with a killer/terrorist’ premise, featuring a resourceful protagonist.
• Phone Booth (2002): A taut thriller largely confined to a single location, focusing on a protagonist trapped by a dangerous antagonist.
• Margin Call (2011): Explores the dark underside of corporate dealings and the moral compromises made within big business, similar to the pharmaceutical/law firm backdrop here.
• Michael Clayton (2007): A legal thriller dealing with corporate malfeasance, cover-ups, and the dangerous consequences for those who uncover the truth.
• Free Fall (2014): Another thriller from the same year and similar budget range also involving an office worker targeted by a killer.

🛒 Not Safe for Work Related Products

• Not Safe for Work Blu-ray/Digital Copy: Own the tense office thriller at home. Features the full movie in high definition, perfect for re-watching the suspenseful cat-and-mouse chase.
• Corporate Espionage Novel: ‘The Firm’ by John Grisham: A classic legal thriller exploring dark secrets within a prestigious law firm. Delves into themes of corporate corruption and survival under pressure.
• Stealth Video Game: ‘Hitman 3’: Step into the shoes of a professional assassin navigating complex, multi-layered environments to eliminate targets. Features strategic stealth gameplay and intricate level design.
• Office Survival Kit Gag Gift: A humorous novelty kit filled with essentials for surviving a ‘typical’ day at the office. Perfect for anyone who feels their job is ‘Not Safe for Work’.

🎧 Soundtrack

Not Safe for Work features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Not Safe for Work (Original Motion Picture Score)” – performed by BT
• “Office Kill” – performed by BT
• “The 34th Floor” – performed by BT

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

If you have nothing to do, don’t work overtime. #shorts

Ever feel like staying late at the office could actually be dangerous? This popular short clip gives you a quick, intense taste of what happens when working overtime goes terribly wrong in this film!

In This Office, Employees Are Killed If They Don’t Go Home

Curious about the full crazy premise of this movie? This video breaks down the entire story, explaining exactly why sticking around the office might cost you everything. It’s a great way to understand the plot before or after watching!

The man was trapped！#shorts

Imagine being stuck in your office building when a killer is loose… yikes! Check out this short clip to see one intense moment where our character realizes just how trapped they really are.

✨ Rate