Computer hackers are all the rage—see the clattering keyboards in Live Free or Die Hard—and this one takes an intriguing and thoughtful, if smug, look at what would happen if a skilled hacker had a purpose other than robbing banks. Disillusioned Terell, convincingly underplayed by Eugene Byrd, embarrasses those who have wronged him by uploading compromising video, while craven grad student Olivia (Ali Larter) sees his methods as having larger, Orwellian purposes, with eventually deadly ramifications. It’s pretty smart stuff, mixing up technology with politics, but it’s also too studious for mainstream appeal and lacks a payoff. Director Stefan C. Schaefer has a problem making cubicals and political intrigue seem dangerous, despite his best efforts.

Shelf Talk: College students are the most likely target for Confess, and, happily, this 2005 indie is being issued right at the start of the school year. Larter is the only significant name in the cast, but her Final Destination franchise has rung up nearly $100 million at the box office, with strong, long-legged returns in the home market. And her high profile on TV’s Heroes won’t hurt either.