A Seductively Subpar Psychosexual Thriller Walks the Streaming Wild Side

Thanks to its intriguing concept, hugely talented ensemble cast, and extremely unlikely creative architect, 2008’s psychological thriller The Human Contract should have generated significantly more buzz than it actually did, to the point it’s become almost completely forgotten in the 15 years since it first arrived and instantly went under the radar.

Written and directed by Jada Pinkett Smith of all people – in her first and only feature film credit from behind the camera – the cast boasts such names as Jason Clarke, Paz Vega, Ted Danson, Titus Welliver, Idris Elba, and Tessa Thompson. Based on their involvement, not to mention an intriguingly twisted premise, it’s remarkable that it fell through the cracks to such an extent.

Clarke plays a tightly-wound businessman stuck in an unhappy existence, something Vega’s enigmatic Michael changes in a heartbeat. Uninhibited and potentially even dangerous, their instant connection makes it easy for her to convince the stuffy PR executive to throw off the shackles of safety and walk the wild side for the first time in his life.

Suffice to say, trouble arises before too long, leading the almost-divorced midlife crisis victim to ponder whether sacrificing everything in the name of the first excitement he’s experienced forever is really worth it in the long haul. It all sounds intoxicating enough, but perhaps the biggest problem with The Human Contract is that it isn’t very good, which is admittedly a fairly major obstacle to overcome.

Nevertheless, streaming subscribers have dragged it back from the brink of purgatory, with FlixPatrol revealing Pinkett Smith’s ill-fated foray into feature-length directing as one of the top-viewed new entrants on the Prime Video global charts.

via Overbrook Entertainment

Thanks to its intriguing concept, hugely talented ensemble cast, and extremely unlikely creative architect, 2008’s psychological thriller The Human Contract should have generated significantly more buzz than it actually did, to the point it’s become almost completely forgotten in the 15 years since it first arrived and instantly went under the radar.

Written and directed by Jada Pinkett Smith of all people – in her first and only feature film credit from behind the camera – the cast boasts such names as Jason Clarke, Paz Vega, Ted Danson, Titus Welliver, Idris Elba, and Tessa Thompson. Based on their involvement, not to mention an intriguingly twisted premise, it’s remarkable that it fell through the cracks to such an extent.

Clarke plays a tightly-wound businessman stuck in an unhappy existence, something Vega’s enigmatic Michael changes in a heartbeat. Uninhibited and potentially even dangerous, their instant connection makes it easy for her to convince the stuffy PR executive to throw off the shackles of safety and walk the wild side for the first time in his life.

Suffice to say, trouble arises before too long, leading the almost-divorced midlife crisis victim to ponder whether sacrificing everything in the name of the first excitement he’s experienced forever is really worth it in the long haul. It all sounds intoxicating enough, but perhaps the biggest problem with The Human Contract is that it isn’t very good, which is admittedly a fairly major obstacle to overcome.

Nevertheless, streaming subscribers have dragged it back from the brink of purgatory, with FlixPatrol revealing Pinkett Smith’s ill-fated foray into feature-length directing as one of the top-viewed new entrants on the Prime Video global charts.