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The Mind Benders

Play trailer Poster for The Mind Benders 1963 1h 39m Sci-Fi Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 3 Reviews 27% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Following the death of a fellow scientist accused of being a communist spy, Dr. Henry Longman (Dirk Bogarde) works to prove that his colleague had been brainwashed. To do so, Longman subjects himself to experiments in a sensory deprivation tank. This starts to take a heavy toll on his mental health; in particular, it alienates him from his wife. Additionally, his scientific credibility suffers and with it the chances for discovering the truth about his colleague.

Critics Reviews

View All (3) Critics Reviews
Ed Potton Times (UK) What a strange and unnerving film this is, buzzing with mental implosions, Cold War paranoia and patrician arrogance. Rated: 4/5 Sep 25, 2024 Full Review Sarah Boslaugh TheArtsStl ...a strange little film that explores what was then a trendy topic (the effects of sensory deprivation on the mind, as presented in a popular novel of the day) in a way that's both disturbing and memorable. Rated: 6/10 Oct 19, 2019 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews An influential but forgettable and slow-moving sci-fi thriller with an agreeable espionage twist over a controversial secret mind-control experiment. Rated: B Apr 29, 2012 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (4) audience reviews
Audience Member A fine performance by Bogarde in an otherwise mediocre film. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Audience Member While there are some impressive and emotionally intense scenes near the end, they are only arrived at via a trail of very bad and very improbable choices. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Drawn out film starring Dirk Bogarde as a scientist that is getting tested with the same techniques that caused a friend to commit suicide just recently. The film moves incredibly slow and feels like the end will never happen and once it does you're left asking that's it? Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Audience Member weird but interesting Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Mind Benders

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis Following the death of a fellow scientist accused of being a communist spy, Dr. Henry Longman (Dirk Bogarde) works to prove that his colleague had been brainwashed. To do so, Longman subjects himself to experiments in a sensory deprivation tank. This starts to take a heavy toll on his mental health; in particular, it alienates him from his wife. Additionally, his scientific credibility suffers and with it the chances for discovering the truth about his colleague.
Director
Basil Dearden
Producer
Michael Relph
Screenwriter
James Kennaway
Production Co
Michael Relph Productions
Genre
Sci-Fi, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
British English
Runtime
1h 39m