Week End movie: SPIDERHEAD

Spiderhead is a 2022 American science fiction psychological thriller film directed by Joseph Kosinski, with a screenplay by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, based on the dystopian short story "Escape from Spiderhead" by George Saunders and first published in The New Yorker. The film stars Chris Hemsworth, Miles Teller, and Jurnee Smollett.

The story follows inmates in a luxurious prison who participate in experiments involving mind-altering drugs. The prisoners, technically prisoners of the state, are volunteers for the project aiming to reduce their sentence time. The program is overseen by the sympathetic and hospitable Steve Abnesti (Hemsworth), along with his assistant Mark. The prisoners have their own rooms, do chores, and are free to roam without guard supervision. The subjects go through daily test runs of various drugs, all of which alter their emotions and their perceptions of their surroundings.

One of the prisoners, Jeff (Teller), is a test subject for a new drug that is designed to induce feelings of love. Jeff develops a strong emotional connection with another inmate, Lizzy (Smollett). However, as Jeff learns more about the drugs and the experiments, he begins to question Abnesti's motives and the true nature of the program.

Spiderhead is a dark and suspenseful film that explores the ethical implications of mind control and the nature of free will. It is also a meditation on love, loss, and redemption.

The film has received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its performances and thought-provoking premise, while others criticizing its underdeveloped characters and predictable plot. However, Spiderhead is a visually stunning film with a strong cast, and it is sure to generate discussion among viewers.