Surge

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Surge

Released Sep 24, 2021

1h 45m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

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Popcornmeter

79%

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56 Reviews

61%

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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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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Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

An intense and engaging film from its first shaky, shaky frames.

Sep 29, 2021

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Audience Member

Great acting.......portrays mental health brutally

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/18/25

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Arthur D

Disjointed movie and makes no sense. Do bother to watch this; your time could be spent in better ways.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

09/11/23

Full Review

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Aneil Karia

Director

Ben Whishaw

Joseph

Ellie Haddington

Actor

Ian Gelder

Actor

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Lily

Laurence Spellman

Scott

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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: BBC Films, Rooks Nest Entertainment, British Film Institute
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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