With nothing to do during my summer vacation, I started scrolling through Netflix to see if they had anything new in store. I saw the mediocre collection of shows with Stranger Things on their most watched page and a new movie starring Chris Hemsworth and Miles Teller.
I’ve been trying to give this movie, Spiderhead, a watch, and I’ve come to the conclusion that Netflix is ​​desperately trying to crawl out of the grave they’ve created and just spend money on literally anything they make relevant could.
Spiderhead follows a group of prisoners in a testing facility controlled by a charismatic scientist named Steve Abnesti, played by Hemsworth. We follow Jeff, a prisoner at the facility, played by Teller, who wants redemption for the crimes he has committed. Jeff and the other prisoners are subjected to multiple drug tests and are tasked with “making the world a better place” through their experiments.
This movie was mediocre at best, with too many overused tropes. Things repeated and flattened out halfway through the story when the inmates involved were simply asked to test the same drugs. The drugs, although colorful, did not produce any extraordinary effects. However, with Miles and Chris acting, the film could progress at a steady pace. I would also like to add that this movie had a great soundtrack that made the atmosphere of each scene enjoyable.
Aside from the mediocrity, the film also had many unrealistic tropes. The prisoners live in an incredibly magnificent building where almost everything is served to them on a silver platter. Each of them resides in a large room, enjoys delicious cuisine, and has access to arcades and fitness centers. This really detracts from the fact that they are criminals and have committed horrific crimes and diminishes the depth that this movie is really trying to offer.
Finally, the worst thing about this film is that it could have been something much more enriching. The ideas were, dare I say, kind of brilliant, but the film tried to stay within the script as much as possible. Nothing felt real or thought-provoking.
Characters make strange choices, and some characters we don’t even get to really get to know become something else through a motivational talk. It felt like the movie built up that muddled and twisted ending, but it just boils down to a poorly choreographed action scene and generic villain death.
However, I would like to mention that I do not like this film. But I don’t like it that much either. The film was just painfully average and I wanted more from a filmmaker as talented as Joseph Kosinski, who directed Top Gun: Maverick and Tron. Netflix hasn’t been able to give a real green light to good media in recent months, instead opting for quantity over quality.
Spiderhead is just one of the few examples, and there are many more to come. With this steady stream of content, Netflix may continue to lose viewers and add the final nail to their coffin.
Abhoy Hriddo scrolls through Instagram all day waiting for the next update on The Boys. Send him your thoughts at [email protected]