Spiderhead movie is supposed to be a thriller with fantasy aspects. What if you could force individuals to love others against their will? Or push them to fight in a fit of rage or even take their own life? Or instill terror at the sight of a toothbrush? We have seen it many times on the big screen that scientific experiments conducted on an island by an eccentric visionary scientist tend to produce results that are detrimental to humanity. The world of movies has a number of films dedicated to this theme.
Spiderhead Plot
A weird experiment is taking place on an island with a research facility named after the film’s title—Spiderhead. Guinea pigs are human beings as well. They are ex-convicts who are specifically chosen and have agreed to trade their time in a filthy jail for one in a far more pleasant one. You won’t believe this, but the Spiderhead prison is way better than a 5-star hotel!
In return, they are asked to try out a range of mood-altering pharmaceuticals. These chemicals have the potential to induce illusory states of consciousness that are not within the control of the individual’s volition. The test participant may experience uncontrollable laughter from some, intense attraction from another (N-40), or excruciating agony and anguish from others (Agonidrine). Dr. Steve Abnesti (Chris Hemsworth), an ambitious scientist who seems soft and sensitive in his approach, is in charge of the project.
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The film’s opening is riveting. After about an hour of watching, though, the plot’s quality will start to decline noticeably. It’s clear that the filmmakers were in a rush to get this finished; the film’s quality takes a nosedive at its climax. It’s a shame since I think the film could have been a lot better and would have done more at the box office if the filmmakers had focused on making the second half better. I also feel terribly sorry for Joseph Kosinski, the man who has given us the top box office earner of 2022—Top Gun: Maverick.
What Didn’t Work For The Spiderhead Movie?
I was intrigued by Spiderhead’s premise, but I didn’t feel like it was fully realized. It’s not that I didn’t like parts of the movie. Chris Hemsworth gives a good anti-type performance as the antagonist, and the production design is above average. The film also provides a solid foundation on which to explore the cultural impact of drugs. The film presents a number of interesting concepts and themes, but it never really explores any of them in depth, instead going with a more conventional escape plot. If that’s all you want, then you’ll get your money’s worth. However, I was hoping for an Ex Machina and got a mediocre film.
The film is well put together and explores some intriguing ideas, but it lacks ambition and fails to engage the audience. It’s watchable only if you’re interested in the concept and a big fan of Chris Hemsworth, but a no-go for everyone else.
To be clear, I didn’t actively like this film; rather, I found myself extremely disappointed after wasting my time on such nonsense. At one point, I thought the plot was headed in a very sinister direction. The expected arrival time came and went, and the events that took place were dull and uninteresting. It’s not a terrible film, but it doesn’t necessarily need to be watched either. With all my generosity and love for my beloved Thor, I can only give Spiderhead 5 out of 10.
The World of Movies Rating: 05/10
Movie Title: Spiderhead
Based on: Escape From Spiderhead by George Saunders
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Written by: Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick
Main Cast: Chris Hemsworth as Steve Abnesti, Miles Teller as Jeff
Year of Release: 2022
Genre: Action, Crime, Science Fiction, Psychological Thriller
Country of Origin: USA
Languages: English
Running time: 107 minutes
Distributed by: Netflix
Image Source: Screenshots taken from the movie.