Brainstorm

PG

1983

1h 46m

Sci-Fi

List

57%

21 Reviews

Tomatometer

56%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Researchers Michael Brace (Christopher Walken) and Lillian Reynolds (Louise Fletcher) develop a system that allows the recording and playback of a person's thoughts onto videotape. The project spins dangerously out of control when Brace and his colleagues begin using the technology to explore intense sexual and near-death experiences. When the military moves to hijack the project for their own nefarious purposes, Brace tries to outwit them with help from his estranged wife (Natalie Wood).

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Steve D

Sad farewell to a great, and an incoherent mess.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/28/24

Full Review

Jarrod R

This one was especially impactful when I was in my early teens. Rented this on VHS, and while I was a bit young for many of the overall themes, the way they presented the technology was fascinating and seemed fairly advanced for the early 80s. Through the lens of my childhood, I found this one to be entertaining, and did make an impression. Was also taken by the strength of the cast, then and now.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/12/23

Full Review

Nim T

The movie that was Natalie Wood's last film. Her untimely death and her famous role in West Side Story made me eventually wanted to watch this film. I like the science fiction idea that they tried to provide with machinery and various intriguing special effects. Douglas Trumbull did the best he could to provide a final end to Natalie Wood's work. The cast usage was exceptional, given that there were Oscar winners and other not as known supporting cast. Louise Fletcher's role brought a lot of light to the movie, even though the role is not one that is easy to portray. The tension buildup was there, but the term Brainstorm seemed too broad of a title based on the script. For 1983, I consider the film to be modern with a fresh concept, but story could have more elements of science to enhance the movie.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A fine late exemplar of the paranoid cinema genre that flourished in the 70's, its troubled production and lackluster performance at the box office seem to have doomed Brainstorm to forever being a trivial pursuit curio (what movie was Natalie Wood working on when she died?). This is unfortunate, because a good script, some fantastic performances, and ahead-of-its-time consideration of technological advances and concerns that are now growing more and more relevant to our lives make for a compelling, if occasionally pokey, cinematic experience; one that cries out for rediscovery. Brainstorm is a cult movie only waiting for its cult to show up and claim it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

Audience Member

One of my all-time favorite movies! Louise Fletcher's portrayal of Lilian's heart attack nearly transports the viewer into their own "brainstorm" heart attack. Moving and magical!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The film has a great idea to explore but didn't take full advantage of it

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

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Douglas Trumbull

Director

Christopher Walken

Michael Brace

Natalie Wood

Karen Brace

Louise Fletcher

Lillian Reynolds

Cliff Robertson

Alex Terson

Joe Dorsey

Hal Abramson

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

The characters take such a secondary importance to the gadget that we never feel much for them.

Rated: 2/4

Oct 23, 2004

Full Review

Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: 3/5

Jun 19, 2003

Full Review

Bill Arceneaux

Moviegoing with Bill

When combined with such vision and such application of large-format filmmaking, elevation occurs past popcorn thrills to memorable chills. It's some kind of masterpiece, rivaled only by the works of James Cameron (yes) and Terrence Malick (for sure).

Rated: 4/5

Feb 10, 2022

Full Review

Alan Jones

Starburst

An absorbing and disturbing look into telepathic engineering with a spectacular pay-off that deeply touches us all, dealing as it does with the subject of life after death.

Jun 29, 2020

Full Review

Sergio Benítez

Espinof

It could have worked much more efficiently if its script did not fail so miserably either to make us feel close to its protagonists or to propose a plot that did not reach its last minutes completely frayed. [Full Review in Spanish]

May 7, 2020

Full Review

Diego Galán

El Pais (Spain)

The film can't decide whether it's scientific, political, or simply a romance. [Full Review in Spanish]

Feb 10, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

Researchers Michael Brace (Christopher Walken) and Lillian Reynolds (Louise Fletcher) develop a system that allows the recording and playback of a person's thoughts onto videotape. The project spins dangerously out of control when Brace and his colleagues begin using the technology to explore intense sexual and near-death experiences. When the military moves to hijack the project for their own nefarious purposes, Brace tries to outwit them with help from his estranged wife (Natalie Wood).

Director: Douglas Trumbull
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Rating: PG
Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 22, 2009
Runtime: 1h 46m
Sound Mix: Stereo, Surround

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