The Circuit

by Stuart Levine
Listening to the Q&A discussion following the Tuesday screening of “Wellness,” one might think director Jake Mahaffy feels the world is one big con.

Granted, the well-reviewed film that arrived at CineVegas covers a pyramid scheme from the p.o.v. of schlubby salesman Thomas Lindsey — the wonderful Jeff Clark, an actor with no formal training or background — but Mahaffy’s comments make the helmer sound like everyone’s out to get, well, everyone.

“We all get scammed in so many different ways,” he said. “Just go to the gas station. That’s a giant scam.”

Audiences aren’t sure whether to laugh or cry at Lindsey’s ill-fated attempts to gather enough suckers to move up the pyramid, but the saddest part of all is that Lindsey doesn’t even know he’s getting worked over.