Camp X-Ray (film)
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motion picture |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Founder | Peter Sattler |
| Products | Drama film |
Camp X-Ray is a 2014 American drama marking Peter Sattler's debut as a director and writer, inspired by the Guantanamo Bay detention center Camp X-Ray. The film features performances by Kristen Stewart and Payman Maadi, with supporting roles from John Carroll Lynch, Lane Garrison, and Joseph Julian Soria. It made its first appearance at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and was later distributed in U.S. theaters on October 17, 2014, by IFC Films.
Plot
Following the events of September 11, Ali Amir is taken into custody at Guantanamo Bay. Eight years later, Army Private Amy Cole is assigned to serve as a guard at the detention facility. At first, Cole keeps her distance and disapproves of the center’s practices. However, when Ali tries to initiate dialogue, their relationship gradually shifts from animosity to a fragile connection as Cole gains insight into Ali’s personal history and challenges.
Complications arise when Corporal "Randy" Ransdell, a fellow guard who shows interest in Cole, breaches regulations and social boundaries. Cole files a complaint against him, which is ultimately dismissed because of his superior rank. Isolated and moved to night shifts, Cole’s outlook transforms further after she prevents Ali from attempting suicide, demonstrating her increasing compassion.
The narrative concludes with Ali discovering a copy of a Harry Potter book that Cole had sent him, symbolizing their unexpected bond amid the harsh realities of Guantanamo Bay.
Cast
- Kristen Stewart as PFC Amy Cole / "Blondie"
- Payman Maadi as Ali Amir
- Julia Duffy as Betty Cole
- John Carroll Lynch as COL James Drummond
- Lane Garrison as CPL "Randy" Ransdell / "Mop-Top"
- Joseph Julian Soria as PFC Rico Cruz
- Tara Holt as PFC Mary Winters
- Ser'Darius Blain as PFC Raymond Jackson
- Cory Michael Smith as PFC Bergen
- Mark Naji as Detainee #1
- Anoop Simon as Detainee #2
- Robert Tarpinian as Detainee #3
- Yousuf Azami as Ehan
- Marco Khan as Mahmoud
- Kyle Bornheimer as Night Shift C.O.
- Nawal Bengholam as Newscaster
- LaDell Preston as IRF #1
- Daniel Leavitt as IRF #2
Production
On February 6, 2014, North American distribution rights for Camp X-Ray were secured by IFC Films. Shooting Stars LLC took charge of distribution in the United Arab Emirates, while EDGE Entertainment managed rights across Scandinavian countries including Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. The film was released in Lebanon and Iraq on October 30, 2014.
Filming
Principal photography took place between July 17 and mid-August 2013 in Los Angeles and Whittier, California. The scenes depicting the prison environment were filmed at the defunct Fred C. Nelles Youth Correctional Facility located in Whittier.
Promotion and marketing
Post-production work commenced in late summer 2013 with Comen VFX handling special effects. On December 5, 2013, it was announced that the film would debut on January 17 at the Sundance Film Festival, competing in the US Dramatic Competition category. Ten new still images were unveiled on July 3, 2014. The official trailer was released by IFC Films on August 8, 2014 via their YouTube channel.
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) rated Camp X-Ray R for language and brief nudity. It became accessible both in select theaters and through video-on-demand services like iTunes Movies and Amazon.com Video starting October 17, 2014. Additionally, the film was showcased at several festivals including the Atlantic Film Festival, Deauville American Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival, Abu Dhabi Film Festival, Leiden International Film Festival, Hof International Film Festival, and the Stockholm International Film Festival.
A special screening took place on October 6, 2014, in New York City ahead of its wider release.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack of Camp X-Ray includes the track "Kettering" by The Antlers from their album Hospice as well as "Concrete City" by Shyan Selah. The film's trailer features the song "You There" performed by Aquilo. Jess Stroup’s original score was made available on October 14, 2014, through Lakeshore Records on iTunes.
Box office
Initially released on October 17 in a single theater located in New York City, the movie earned $1,316 during its opening. In its second week, it expanded to three theaters, resulting in a 134% increase in revenue, totaling $3,480. By November 9, the cumulative box office revenue reached $9,837. Concurrently, the film launched on video on demand platforms and achieved the #12 spot among iTunes releases. On the international front, it garnered $50,744 in the United Arab Emirates.
Critical response
Camp X-Ray premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was met with generally favorable reviews, particularly highlighting the performances of Kristen Stewart and Peyman Moaadi. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 74% approval rating with an average score of 6.4 out of 10; critics noted the strong lead acting despite a somewhat superficial exploration of its themes. On Metacritic, it received a score of 54 out of 100 based on 25 reviews.
David Rooney from The Hollywood Reporter described the film as a "somber but cogent drama," praising Stewart’s finest screen performance to date alongside Moaadi’s powerful portrayal of a detainee. Marlow Stern of The Daily Beast highlighted Stewart’s nuanced acting and Moaadi’s defiant character as key strengths. Rob Nelson of Variety commended the film for its authentic representation of the U.S. military through a female lens and applauded the chemistry between the leads.
Scott Mendelson at Forbes characterized Stewart as captivating and noted Moaadi’s avoidance of clichés, emphasizing their compelling performances within a predominantly two-person narrative. Matt Zoller Seitz from RogerEbert.com awarded three stars out of five, lauding both direction and lead performances while emphasizing Stewart’s subtle close-ups and the dynamic interaction between characters.
In contrast, Xan Brooks at The Guardian gave a two-star rating out of five; he praised the acting but criticized supporting roles for relying on stereotypes and found the dialogue formulaic. Eric Kohn from Indiewire regarded the screenplay and direction as overly straightforward but acknowledged Stewart’s strong acting contribution. Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly offered a negative critique, questioning Stewart’s suitability for the role due to an apparent lack of toughness.
Awards and nominations
Peter Sattler, who wrote and directed the film, was nominated for the Humanitas Prize in the Sundance category. Casting director Richard Hicks received an Artios Awards nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Casting — Low Budget Feature — Drama. The Women Film Critics Circle recognized Kristen Stewart with a nomination for Best Actress and also nominated the movie for "Best Movie about Women." Additionally, Stewart earned a nomination for the Razzie Redeemer Award.