Pajęcza Głowa

Though the strange, not very believable theme works with a fine idea, it raises unanswered questions and embarrassing impressions from its WTF scenes and completely inappropriate humorous undertones. I needed a second viewing to confirm that there was no error in my state of mind at the time and that Kosinski had really gone so far off the rails. And there was no error. Even the music is bad in this movie. Though the film kicks off with a fine song, the other songs later drive nails in its coffin. (23.06.2022)

I never thought Netflix could ruin a film from a director I had high hopes for, but here we are. The trailer looked promising, but the reality is a letdown. Great concept, strong cast, but the execution and script are embarrassing. I kept waiting for a scene to turn things around and inject some real tension. When it finally happened, the events that followed just turned the movie into a mess — a mess with A-list Hollywood actors. (22.06.2022)

Spiderhead had the potential to be a big hit, but unfortunately remained a mediocre film, which is a wonder considering who is behind it. When Joseph Kosinski, who blew everyone away with Maverick, the writer of both Deadpool movies, Hemsworth and Teller, plus an original premise come together on set, it's almost hard to believe that the final product is a bit of an easy skip. The film takes place in probably the least realistic prison (there are some nice interiors), where there are no rules at work, nothing is explained properly, there's just a scientist testing drugs on prisoners, which in itself sounds fine because drugs are fun, but what might have been the most fun thing about the film is kind of boring in places. I was quite bothered by the lack of test subjects (there are about three people being tested?), the lack of any significant intensity. I was expecting some sort of trippy prison massacre, but I would have taken an uncomfortable stuffiness in the air. None of that happens, there is only one suspenseful scene (everyone probably can guess which one it is), and the finale is very much off the mark. On the other hand, I liked the music, it is is excellent, the actors do their thing and there are a few minor twists and turns, so it managed to serve as a one-off, but expectations were much different. Untapped potential, but it wasn't a waste of time for me. Story 3/5. Action 2/5, Humour 2/5, Violence 1/5, Fun 3/5 Music 4/5, Visuals 4/5, Atmosphere 3/5, Suspense 2/5, Emotion 3/5, Actors 3/5. 5.5/10 (19.06.2022)

The very relevant topic of human submissiveness and what controls us, but in inconsistent packaging and, unfortunately, with rather a bland ending. The screenplay chose a cheap, escaping ending, instead of trying anything bolder. Which is strange - it was so promising for so long. Hemsworth really enjoys this, for him untraditional, role. Kosinski has made an attractive movie here, with a wonderfully designed jail and surrounding countryside. Beautiful. Rather naively, I had originally thought that he would experiment more in this minor production for Netflix, but no. (17.06.2022)

Spiderhead has a great premise that offers so many possibilities for a solid sci-fi thriller and possibly a comedic satire, yet it ended up somewhere in the middle of the road. The culprit isn't director Joseph Kosinski, but the writers of mock action flicks like Deadpool, Zombieland and 6 Underground, who are unable to harness thought-provoking source material and instead try to pitch a wannabe-cool, silly spectacle festooned with attractive properties. The wasted potential is clear to see, yet Spiderhead works to some extent at least as a solid non-brainer B-movie that unfortunately disintegrates into a laughable mishmash of nonsense at the end. (26.06.2022)

Incredibly boring and a huge misstep by Joseph Kosinski. It takes talent to screw up such a perfect theme of controlling the emotions of human guinea pigs and exploring their reactions after being given a substance. The substance in question could have been handled to perfection, but instead it's a superficial piece of tripe that comes across as a boring B-movie. The premise is unexploited, the ideas are nil, there is no suspense to speak of, the visuals fail to impress and even the two A-list names in the lead roles can salvage it as their acting is appalling, if B-movie no-names were cast here, the result would have been the same. By the end I was unable to handle it anymore and had to fast-forward. Catastrophic. (17.06.2022)