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The Numbers Station

The Numbers Station is a action directed by Kasper Barfoed in his English-language feature debut. It stars as a disgraced CIA black ops agent assigned to protect a young code operator, played by Malin Åkerman, at a remote broadcast station in the British countryside. When assailants attack the facility to compromise secret codes, the pair must fight for survival to thwart a terrorist plot. The film had a limited release in the United States on April 26, .

Film Overview

Plot

The Numbers Station is a action thriller centered on Emerson Kent, a disgraced CIA black ops agent who is reassigned to a remote in , , after a botched operation. There, he is tasked with protecting , a skilled operator, during what begins as a routine overnight shift at the isolated facility. The numbers station serves as a secure CIA broadcast hub, transmitting encrypted numerical messages via to field agents worldwide, a inspired by real-world covert communication practices. As and settle into their duties inside the underground bunker, their night is shattered by a from a team of heavily armed assailants intent on breaching the station to intercept and alter a vital to send unauthorized assassination orders targeting government officials. The assault triggers a harrowing , forcing the pair into a desperate fight for survival within the . Tensions escalate as they implement defensive measures like barricading entrances and improvising weapons from available equipment, while grappling with failed communication attempts to summon help and profound moral dilemmas about the mission's stakes. Key sequences highlight their resourcefulness in sending distress signals amid the chaos, underscoring the high-stakes isolation of their predicament.

Cast

John Cusack stars as Emerson Kent, a burned-out CIA black ops agent demoted to protective duty at a remote following a botched mission. Malin Åkerman portrays Katherine, the code stationed there whose expertise in encrypted messages becomes central to the operation's . Liam Cunningham plays Grey, Emerson's CIA handler who remotely supervises the assignment and provides strategic oversight from headquarters. The ensemble includes supporting performances that enhance the confined atmosphere of the story, such as as Max, a fellow operative involved in the broader CIA network; as David, another agent tied to the station's protocols; and as Rachel Davis, the civilian witness from Emerson's botched mission. Lucy Griffiths appears as Meredith, contributing to the team's intelligence efforts, while plays Derne, adding layers to the antagonistic threats. These roles underscore the film's focus on interpersonal dynamics under pressure in an isolated setting.

Production

Development

The screenplay for The Numbers Station originated as an original penned by F. Scott Frazier, a then-up-and-coming who broke into with multiple spec sales in 2010. Frazier's story centered on a disgraced CIA operative assigned to safeguard a remote , drawing direct inspiration from the real-world espionage tool of numbers stations—shortwave radio broadcasts employed by intelligence agencies, particularly during the , to transmit encrypted numeric codes to spies in the field. ContentFilm International acquired the script in mid-2010, securing financing through a partnership with producers Sean and Bryan Furst of American Work and Nigel Thomas of Prescience, a British production and finance company. The project was positioned as a low-budget thriller with a conceptual emphasis on claustrophobic tension and real-time siege elements, akin to a contained-space scenario reminiscent of but isolated within a fortified radio bunker, allowing for high-stakes drama on a modest scale. Danish director Kasper Barfoed was attached to helm the film, selected for his background in taut psychological s such as the 2008 Danish feature The Candidate (original title: Kandidaten), which showcased his ability to build suspense in limited environments. Initial casting announcements in September 2010 revealed attached to the lead role opposite Malin Åkerman as the code operator, with planned for early 2011. However, by October 2011, had signed on to replace Hawke in the role, bringing his experience with complex, morally gray characters in spy and genres to the project; Åkerman remained in her part, and shooting commenced that November in the . The production was budgeted at approximately $10 million, strategically aimed at video-on-demand (VOD) platforms and limited theatrical distribution to maximize returns on its contained scope.

Filming

Principal photography for The Numbers Station commenced in November 2011 and concluded in December 2011. The production was filmed primarily in , , utilizing disused military sites and rural landscapes to represent the isolated Suffolk-based numbers station depicted in the story. Key locations included the Bentwaters Cold War Museum, a former RAF base featuring authentic bunkers that stood in for the underground facility, thereby evoking a profound sense of isolation and confinement. Additional sites such as the East Anglian Railway Museum and the provided exterior rural and infrastructural elements essential to the narrative's remote setting. The filmmakers relied heavily on practical sets within the real structures to intensify the claustrophobic tension, supplemented by minimal for select action sequences. Technical challenges arose in simulating the radio broadcasts and visuals integral to the plot, requiring precise coordination to authentically replicate the numbers station's operations amid the bunker's dim, enclosed spaces. Filming in these low-light, confined environments demanded careful attention to and measures to maintain production flow while building suspense. cinematographer Óttar Guðnason captured the footage, employing a desaturated color palette and tight framing to underscore the characters' psychological entrapment and the stark, oppressive atmosphere of the . Post-production followed shortly after principal photography wrapped, with sound design prioritizing layered radio static, encrypted transmissions, and echoing ambient bunker noises to heighten the immersive, tense auditory experience.

Release

Distribution and Premiere

Image Entertainment acquired all U.S. rights to The Numbers Station from Content Media at the 2012 American Film Market, setting the stage for a limited rollout focused on digital platforms rather than wide theatrical distribution. The film received its international debut in Denmark on April 18, 2013, followed by an early VOD availability in the U.S. on platforms like iTunes and Netflix in early April, ahead of its limited theatrical release on April 26, 2013, in just four theaters. This strategy emphasized quick access via on-demand services to capitalize on John Cusack's star power in a thriller genre, positioning the movie as a direct-to-digital title with minimal cinema footprint. Internationally, the rollout was similarly restrained, with releases in select territories like on August 22, 2013, and on January 24, 2014, handled through sales agents including Content Media, while avoiding broad theatrical commitments. In the UK, the film launched digitally on May 27, 2013, via services, bypassing traditional screenings. As a Belgian co-production, it saw early availability in , aligning with the overall emphasis on for global accessibility over extensive theater chains. Marketing efforts centered on 's return to intense action roles, with the first trailer debuting in February 2013 to highlight the siege thriller elements and enigmatic premise. The official poster depicted and co-star Malin Åkerman in a dimly lit setting, underscoring the claustrophobic tension. Pre-release box office projections were modest due to the VOD prioritization and stiff competition from major blockbusters like , which dominated screens starting May 3, 2013; the film ultimately opened to $7,118 across its four U.S. theaters, reflecting the niche digital-first approach.

Home Media

The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray in the United States on May 28, 2013, distributed by Image Entertainment. The editions featured a 15-minute making-of providing behind-the-scenes insights into production. In the , the DVD edition arrived on July 1, 2013. Following its limited theatrical run, digital streaming and video-on-demand options debuted in , expanding access beyond . The title later appeared on , with availability noted in subsequent years before rotating off the service. Estimated U.S. sales generated $3,075,103 in revenue, including $2,666,874 from DVDs and $408,229 from Blu-rays, contributing significantly to the film's ancillary earnings. As of 2025, The Numbers Station streams for free with ads on and and is accessible via subscription on and , alongside rental options on major platforms. No major remastered editions, such as UHD, have been issued to date.

Reception

Critical Response

"The Numbers Station" received mixed to negative reviews from critics upon its release, with aggregate scores reflecting general disappointment in its execution as a . On , the film holds a 31% approval rating based on 26 reviews, while the audience score stands at 31% from over 5,000 ratings. On , it scores 39 out of 100 based on 8 critic reviews, indicating "generally unfavorable" reception. Critics praised certain technical and atmospheric elements, particularly the tense, claustrophobic setting of the isolated that heightens the sense of confinement during the siege-like . The action sequences were noted for their solid, if modest, choreography, with director Kasper Barfoed demonstrating competence in staging small-scale confrontations amid the limited space. Malin Åkerman's performance as the code operator drew particular acclaim for its capability and emotional depth under pressure, providing a grounded to the film's more formulaic aspects and marking a strong dramatic turn for the actress. However, frequent criticisms centered on the screenplay's predictability and lack of originality, with plot twists seen as telegraphed and reliant on familiar thriller clichés, such as the grizzled, disgraced agent archetype embodied by John Cusack's character. Characters were often described as underdeveloped, serving primarily as vehicles for exposition rather than fully realized individuals, which undermined emotional investment. The direction by Barfoed was deemed underwhelming, failing to elevate the material beyond a rote, low-stakes exercise in genre conventions despite a charming premise involving analog code-breaking. In its review, Variety described the film as "a glum, juiceless spy thriller" unlikely to resonate, sentencing its leads to "roughly 90 minutes of solitary confinement in a poorly lit underground bunker." The film premiered at the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival, where reception was mixed; while some appreciated its potential as a straightforward VOD , others noted its lack of commitment to either action or psychological depth, leaving it feeling derivative.

Box Office Performance

The Numbers Station had a in the United States on April 26, 2013, but domestic figures are not comprehensively tracked, suggesting were negligible and well under $100,000. International performance was similarly modest, with reported grosses including $306,239 in , $32,230 in , and $11,338 in the , contributing to an estimated worldwide theatrical total of $383,488. The saw minimal , aligning with the film's overall limited international footprint. Produced on an estimated budget of $10 million, the film underperformed theatrically, failing to recoup its costs through cinemas alone and relying heavily on video-on-demand (VOD) and ancillary markets for any potential break-even. Its VOD-first release strategy, with availability starting May 28, 2013, prioritized over wide theatrical rollout. Contributing factors included stiff competition from major 2013 summer blockbusters such as and , as well as subdued audience draw from John Cusack's involvement amid his shift toward lower-profile projects. In ancillary markets, domestic DVD and Blu-ray sales were estimated at $3,074,975, recovering roughly 30% of the by mid-decade but falling short of major profitability. As of 2025, has seen no theatrical re-release, though exact figures for ongoing licensing remain undisclosed.

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