Spiderhead

Spiderhead

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6 / 10

1 Review

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Overview

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.

Media

Spiderhead | Chris Hemsworth | Official Trailer | Netflix

Cast

Chris Hemsworth

Jurnee Smollett

Director:

Joseph Kosinski

Writer:

Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, George Saunders

Release Date:

2022-06-15

Run Time:

107m

Tagline:

How far would you go to fix human nature?

Genres:

Science Fiction Thriller

Keywords:

based on short story drug testing dystopia inmate prison escape psychological stress psychological thriller psychotronic

Financials and Popularity

Budget: Not Declared

Revenue: Not Declared

Vote Average: 5.8/10

Vote Count: 1742 Votes

Movie Popularity: 2.9979

Spoken Languages: English

Review

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Insomniacs Reviews
- 01 May 2026 at 8:59 am

6 Based on 1 Votes
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⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 6/10 THE SUMMARY In a state-of-the-art penitentiary run by the charismatic and visionary Steve Abnesti (Chris Hemsworth), inmates can reduce their sentences by volunteering for medical experiments. These aren't your typical drug trials; the subjects are fitted with a surgically attached device that drips mind-altering chemicals directly into their system. Jeff (Miles Teller), a pained inmate haunted by a tragic accident, begins to question the true purpose of the emotions being forced upon him. As the experiments get darker and the "love" or "fear" becomes more visceral, Jeff must find a way to outsmart the man controlling his every mood. THE PROS Chris Hemsworth is the absolute engine of this movie, playing against type as a quirky, manipulative tech-bro with a pained, hidden agenda. It hits a 6 because his performance is a fair shout for his most interesting work, blending charm with an underlying sense of menace. Miles Teller provides a sincere, grounded heart to the story, making Jeff's pained memories feel tactile and real. The concept itself is a punchy, high-concept "Black Mirror" style setup that raises some honest questions about consent and the nature of emotion. The sleek, isolated setting of the Spiderhead facility looks epic, creating a claustrophobic atmosphere that contrasts with the beautiful, open ocean surrounding it. THE CONS It stays at a 6 because the script eventually falls into some predictable traps, turning what could have been a deep philosophical thriller into a bit of a standard escape flick. It misses a higher mark because the tonal shifts are a massive head-scratcher—it bounces between dark comedy and visceral tragedy in a way that feels a bit jarring. The pacing sags in the middle as the experiments become repetitive, and the ending feels an honest bit rushed, failing to deliver a truly epic payoff to the pained tension built earlier on. It’s a solid watch for the lead performances, but the execution doesn't quite live up to the brilliance of the premise. THE VERDICT 6/10. A sleek, pained, and well-acted sci-fi that doesn't quite reach its full potential. It’s a fair shout if you want to see Hemsworth play a brilliant creep, but don't expect it to change your life. INSOMNIAC TRIVIA • The film is based on the short story 'Escape from Spiderhead' by George Saunders, which originally appeared in The New Yorker and gained a cult following for its pained, satirical look at the future.• To keep the environment feeling honest and "un-AI," the production filmed in various locations across Queensland, Australia, utilizing actual brutalist architecture to give the prison its cold, modern look.• Director Joseph Kosinski and Miles Teller previously worked together on 'Top Gun: Maverick,' and their pained, professional shorthand helped them navigate the film's tight shooting schedule. THE VIBE Like a bright room with no windows. It smells of expensive floor wax, sterile air, and the metallic tang of a needle.

Videos

Spiderhead | Chris Hemsworth | Official Trailer | Netflix

Cast

Chris Hemsworth

Jurnee Smollett

BeBe Bettencourt

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Spiderhead

Comment (1)

Insomniacs Reviews
- 1 May 2026 at 9:59 AM

⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 6/10
THE SUMMARY
In a state-of-the-art penitentiary run by the charismatic and visionary Steve Abnesti (Chris Hemsworth), inmates can reduce their sentences by volunteering for medical experiments. These aren’t your typical drug trials; the subjects are fitted with a surgically attached device that drips mind-altering chemicals directly into their system. Jeff (Miles Teller), a pained inmate haunted by a tragic accident, begins to question the true purpose of the emotions being forced upon him. As the experiments get darker and the “love” or “fear” becomes more visceral, Jeff must find a way to outsmart the man controlling his every mood.
THE PROS
Chris Hemsworth is the absolute engine of this movie, playing against type as a quirky, manipulative tech-bro with a pained, hidden agenda. It hits a 6 because his performance is a fair shout for his most interesting work, blending charm with an underlying sense of menace. Miles Teller provides a sincere, grounded heart to the story, making Jeff’s pained memories feel tactile and real. The concept itself is a punchy, high-concept “Black Mirror” style setup that raises some honest questions about consent and the nature of emotion. The sleek, isolated setting of the Spiderhead facility looks epic, creating a claustrophobic atmosphere that contrasts with the beautiful, open ocean surrounding it.
THE CONS
It stays at a 6 because the script eventually falls into some predictable traps, turning what could have been a deep philosophical thriller into a bit of a standard escape flick. It misses a higher mark because the tonal shifts are a massive head-scratcher—it bounces between dark comedy and visceral tragedy in a way that feels a bit jarring. The pacing sags in the middle as the experiments become repetitive, and the ending feels an honest bit rushed, failing to deliver a truly epic payoff to the pained tension built earlier on. It’s a solid watch for the lead performances, but the execution doesn’t quite live up to the brilliance of the premise.
THE VERDICT
6/10. A sleek, pained, and well-acted sci-fi that doesn’t quite reach its full potential. It’s a fair shout if you want to see Hemsworth play a brilliant creep, but don’t expect it to change your life.
INSOMNIAC TRIVIA
• The film is based on the short story ‘Escape from Spiderhead’ by George Saunders, which originally appeared in The New Yorker and gained a cult following for its pained, satirical look at the future.
• To keep the environment feeling honest and “un-AI,” the production filmed in various locations across Queensland, Australia, utilizing actual brutalist architecture to give the prison its cold, modern look.
• Director Joseph Kosinski and Miles Teller previously worked together on ‘Top Gun: Maverick,’ and their pained, professional shorthand helped them navigate the film’s tight shooting schedule.
THE VIBE
Like a bright room with no windows. It smells of expensive floor wax, sterile air, and the metallic tang of a needle.

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