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Surge

Play trailer Poster for Surge Released Sep 24, 2021 1h 45m Mystery & Thriller Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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79% Tomatometer 56 Reviews 59% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Joseph (Ben Whishaw) is trapped in a soulless job, living a life devoid of emotion and meaning. After an impulsive act of rebellion, Joseph unleashes a wilder version of himself. He is propelled on a reckless journey through London, ultimately experiencing what it feels like to be alive. Premiered at Sundance and Berlinale.
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Surge

Surge

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Critics Consensus

Discomfiting by design, Surge will wear some viewers down -- but Ben Whishaw's mesmerizing performance keeps the action gripping even when it's hard to take.

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Critics Reviews

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Tim Cogshell FilmWeek (LAist) An intense and engaging film from its first shaky, shaky frames. Sep 29, 2021 Full Review K. Austin Collins Rolling Stone The intensity of Surge's scattered, myopic realism isn't for naught. Even with its familiar visual and dramatic approach, the movie packs an odd little punch. Sep 28, 2021 Full Review Alexandra Heller-Nicholas The Blue Lenses What Surge achieves most impressively of all is how it pulls us into the sensory experience of being completely overwhelmed to the point where it untethers Joseph from reality entirely Sep 27, 2021 Full Review Daryl MacDonald InSession Film Surge is worthwhile viewing for the state of tension it can inspire in an audience...anyone who enjoys the manic formula the Safdie’s have perfected will likely find much to like here. Rated: B Apr 26, 2024 Full Review Nuha Hassan Flip Screen ‘Surge’ is honest, and just like its title, the movie rushes and pours the emotions of a man that wants to be set free of the mundane world that he lives in into the mental and physical uneasiness of his perspective. Rated: 4/5 Jul 20, 2023 Full Review Dallas King Flick Feast Fuelled by an incredible performance from Whishaw, this is an unrelenting and exhausting experience. One that grabs a hold of you and forces you to witness the birth of a major new talent in British filmmaking. Rated: 4/5 Nov 12, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen D A BBC film that follows the slow, but increasingly dramatic, mental collapse of an airport security man. Whishaw gives an impressive performance but it is unlikely to appeal to a wide audience. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 04/23/25 Full Review Audience Member Great acting.......portrays mental health brutally Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/18/25 Full Review Cream C One of the worst films I've ever watched. The script is just a series of grunts and monosyllabic words, the actors are amateurish, all the characters are unlikeable and the story is banal. Every aspect of the film is so cheap. In addition the camerawork is awful, almost all of it is that shaky hand-held camera style that makes your eyes ache so that you have to look away to give them a break. A truly dreadful film. I believe it made $34444 worldwide! That indicates how poor this film is. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/17/25 Full Review Scott G This film is WILD! Not always the easiest watch but it's bold and provocative in a way that is reminiscent of the great auteur films of the 70s. For me Ben Whishaw gives the performance of his career! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/01/23 Full Review Stephen C Very difficult to watch but mesmerizing performance by Ben Whishaw makes it worthwhile. Excellent supporting cast as well. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/08/23 Full Review ira m Good performances but such a bleak and depressing subject it is reserved for the most dysfunctional and disturbed people. No entertainment or insightful story line here. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 10/01/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Surge

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Cast & Crew

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Aneil Karia

Director

Ben Whishaw

Joseph

Ellie Haddington

Actor

Ian Gelder

Actor

Jasmine Jobson

Lily

Laurence Spellman

Scott

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Surge

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Movie Info

Synopsis Joseph (Ben Whishaw) is trapped in a soulless job, living a life devoid of emotion and meaning. After an impulsive act of rebellion, Joseph unleashes a wilder version of himself. He is propelled on a reckless journey through London, ultimately experiencing what it feels like to be alive. Premiered at Sundance and Berlinale.
Director
Aneil Karia
Producer
Julia Godzinskaya, Sophie Vickers
Screenwriter
Aneil Karia, Rupert Jones, Rita Kalnejais
Distributor
FilmRise
Production Co
British Film Institute, BBC Films, Rooks Nest Entertainment
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language
British English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 24, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 25, 2021
Runtime
1h 45m
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