Surveillance cameras are all over the show, aren’t they? CCTV, dashcams and Go Pro; Big Brother, little sister; plus every relative right down to the obscure ones who always attend family gatherings have phone cameras watching. Glimpse addresses how we’ve become so used to this constant not-so-borderline intrusion into our lives that most of us (The Tinfoil Hat Brigade excepted) don’t even think to question the rights and potential wrongs of it, seeing it instead as perhaps rather comforting in terms of the personal safety of ourselves and our loved ones to have so much of it tracked day in, day out.

But what if the conspiracy theorists are right and one day you discovered that you were being watched in the confines of your own home? What reasons would anyone have to consider scrutinising you in such an intimate manner and what could they do with that information?

Written and directed by Theresa Rebeck (Smash, Law & Order, NYPD Blue), Glimpse takes a sneaky peek into that very scenario. Three disparate homes; three very different relationship groups; the only common ground amongst them being the elite yet mysterious job vacancy one member of each home is desperate to fill.

Bored and alone except for the subjects on their screens, snacks, and bitchy, idle phone gossip with one other about their subjects, they display only minor interest in the ethics and legalities of what they’re being paid to do. Until, that is, their previously unseen but legendary boss, and a masked intruder with a surprisingly moral motive kick things up a gear.

It’s interesting when cracks begin to appear in the shallow personas of the three, exposing their own weaknesses; possibly the reasons behind their solitary and rather shameful part in all this. In short, they begin to display humanity. This happens in tandem with a similar switch in the dynamic within the homes; previously the interviewee carries the sole weight of financial responsibility while their respective partner’s existence is relatively relaxed, displaying support or sympathy to varying, but minor degrees. As the pressure on the interviewees increases, the true depth of emotion the partners possess towards them is revealed in a markedly surprising, rather touching way.

While all this takes place in the chilly shadow of some monolithic corporation, its identity and purpose never becomes clear beyond the distinct impression that employee wellbeing isn’t high on the priority list; doubtless the intention. Invasive hyper-vigilance on the part of the prospective employers; taking interviewee suitability to the extreme (not completely unheard of concepts at all these days). Yet the more we see of boss lady Lucienne, played brilliantly by Janet McTeer (fans of Ozark will know her as hard-nosed drug cartel lawyer Helen), the more it becomes evident that this goes way deeper than a simple employment opportunity.

The actors do a good job and the relevance of the concept can’t be overlooked, but Glimpse doesn’t quite succeed in terms of making itself clear, seeming to lose its way in metaphor somewhat. However, it’s still an interesting idea and worth an hour and fourteen minutes of your time.

6.5 Out of 10 Unseen Eyes Upon You