Swimming with Sharks 1995

Buddy Ackerman, a commanding and influential personality in the film industry, employs Guy, a recent film school graduate, as his new assistant. Despite the cautions of Rex, Buddy’s weary right-hand man, who leaves behind the emotional toll of Buddy’s oppressive leadership, Guy remains optimistic, viewing this as a golden opportunity. However, it quickly becomes clear that Buddy has no intention of nurturing Guy’s creative aspirations or cultivating a supportive workplace.

Instead, Buddy unleashes a constant stream of verbal assaults, humiliating Guy and relegating him to the status of a mere servant. Guy finds solace in his growing bond with Dawn, a producer at Buddy’s company, who offers a flicker of hope and a reminder that life’s joys extend beyond the cutthroat entertainment business. But when Buddy abruptly informs Guy of his termination over the phone, a transformation occurs within the young writer.

In a bold move for retribution, Guy takes Buddy hostage, tying him up and engaging in a ruthless campaign of both physical and emotional torment as payback for the degradation he has endured. As their tense standoff progresses, it becomes evident that secrets lurk beneath the surface for both men.

Buddy begins to reveal a fragile side, sharing the painful memories of his wife’s murder twelve years ago, prompting Guy to reassess their twisted relationship. He comes to understand that Buddy’s cruelty was not solely about dominance; it was also meant to impart a harsh lesson about the costs of success. When Dawn arrives, she finds Guy on the verge of pulling the trigger, his finger trembling on the gun as Buddy provokes him to take aim.

In this critical moment, Dawn intervenes, imploring Guy to lower his weapon. But Buddy pushes him toward violence, asserting that it’s the only path to triumph in their ruthless industry. As time slips away, Guy wrestles with his longing for vengeance against the fear of losing his humanity. Ultimately, he pulls the trigger, steering his life into uncharted territory.

As the tension escalates, the harrowing truth emerges: it was Guy who committed the tragic act against Dawn, misidentified as an abductor tormenting Buddy. In the wake of this revelation, Guy’s ascent to power seems ominous, as if his sinister deeds have granted him a twisted merit badge. In a chilling moment of calculated control, Guy instructs a former colleague to delve into his motivations and pursue them relentlessly—a directive echoing Buddy’s past urgings for Guy to discover his own.

The film’s resolution sees Buddy, battered yet resilient, walking past Guy’s office with an air of defeat. Their eyes meet, and, in a quiet yet potent gesture, Buddy invites Guy into his domain. Guy, momentarily disregarding his ringing phone, steps into Buddy’s office, leaving the other employees oblivious to the significant discussion that is about to transpire.