Spiderhead
Spiderhead

Spiderhead

2022Movie107 minEnglish

A prisoner in a state-of-the-art penitentiary begins to question the purpose of the emotion-controlling drugs he's testing for a pharmaceutical genius.

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Insights

IMDb6.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes60%
Metacritic55/100
Google Users60%
Director: Joseph KosinskiGenres: Science Fiction, Thriller, Drama

Plot Summary

In a state-of-the-art penitentiary run by the brilliant and visionary Steve Abnesti, inmates can volunteer to become test subjects for radical new drugs that alter the mind and emotions. Jeff, a prisoner grappling with his past, forms a connection with fellow inmate Lizzy. As they participate in Abnesti's experiments, testing compounds that evoke intense emotions, they begin to question the true nature of their incarceration and the motives behind the advanced technology.

Critical Reception

Spiderhead received mixed to generally positive reviews from critics, with many praising its atmospheric tension and Hemsworth's performance, while some found the narrative and pacing to be uneven. Audiences were divided, with some appreciating the thought-provoking themes and others finding it a bit slow or predictable.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its compelling premise and Chris Hemsworth's charismatic, unsettling performance.
  • Cited for its stylish direction and atmospheric, dystopian setting.
  • Criticized by some for pacing issues and a narrative that doesn't fully capitalize on its intriguing ideas.

Google audience: Audiences generally found the film to be a decent watch, appreciating the sci-fi concepts and the lead performances, particularly Chris Hemsworth. However, many felt the story could have been more impactful and that it sometimes struggled to maintain momentum.

Fun Fact

The film is based on the 2010 short story of the same name by George Saunders, which was originally published in The New Yorker.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

6 reviews
Dean

Dean

"Spiderhead" is a clinical, high-concept psychological thriller that succeeds by trapping the audience in a visually pristine yet morally decaying environment. Joseph Kosinski directs with a sharp eye for modern aesthetics, transforming a r...
The Movie Mob

The Movie Mob

**Spiderhead could have been so much more but settled for bland.** Spiderhead’s concept presented compelling possibilities but fell very short of its potential. The movie focuses on pharmaceuticals that create love, fear, and other emoti...
Nathan

Nathan

Going into Spiderhead I was not expecting much due to the mixed bag of reviews, but I was really surprised. The concept is really interesting and very deranged, I found myself gasping out loud at scenarios that were presented to the inmates...
misubisu

misubisu

Can't fault the acting or the production values. This was filmed in Australia, on an island in Queensland. The premise should be more interesting than the way this film presents it. Poor directing? Perhaps. As I said, the acting is good...
JustEntertainment

JustEntertainmen...

The concept is fascinating enough, but the story is so slow and boring that it's hard to follow. Seems like there's a message buried somewhere in there, but it's easy to fall asleep before Evil Corporations oh my god is properly repackaged ...
Manuel São Bento

Manuel São Bento

FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/spiderhead-spoiler-free-review "Spiderhead contains a fascinating high-concept sci-fi premise, but even with an extraordinary cast, it falls short of its narrative poten...