I.T.

Directed by John Moore, I.T. details the chaos that ensues after successful businessman Mike Regan (Pierce Brosnan) decides to cut an overeager I.T. consultant out of his life – as the narrative follows said consultant (James Frecheville’s Ed Porter) as he subsequently stalks Mike and his family (Anna Friel’s Rose and Stefanie Scott’s Kaitlyn). It’s a pretty irresistible premise that’s employed to sporadically watchable yet entirely underwhelming effect by Moore, as the filmmaker, for the most part, proves utterly unable to infuse the proceedings with a hint of tension or momentum – which ensures that certain more overtly exciting stretches (eg the action-packed finale) aren’t able to pack the engrossing punch Moore has clearly intended. There’s little doubt, then, that I.T. benefits substantially from Brosnan and Frecheville’s solid work as the movie’s central characters, while the inclusion of a small handful of admittedly compelling interludes buoys one’s waning interest on a sporadic basis. (The movie is at its best, ultimately, when dwelling on Ed’s efforts at messing with Mike’s life and livelihood, and not, for example, on Mike’s attempts at gaining the upper hand.) But even at 95 minutes, I.T. suffers from an overly erratic vibe that ultimately does confirm its place as a flat and flabby would-be thriller – which is a shame, no doubt, given the dearth of such movies within the contemporary marketplace.

** out of ****