The Institute

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2:03

The Institute

R

2017

1h 30m

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

0%

Tomatometer

5 Reviews

21%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

Subjected to bizarre and increasingly violent pseudo-scientific experiments in personality modification, brainwashing and mind control, Isabel Porter must escape the clutches of the Rosewood Institute and exact her revenge -- or be forever lost.

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Brian Tallerico

RogerEbert.com

Every once in a while, something will rise to the surface-an acting choice by the talented cast, a line of dialogue, an interesting theme-but it's not often enough to justify the film's many missteps.

Rated: 1/4

Mar 3, 2017

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Clayton Dillard

Slant Magazine

The Institute seems constantly on the verge of dipping into spoof, though of what exactly is difficult to say.

Rated: 1/4

Mar 2, 2017

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Gary Goldstein

Los Angeles Times

The main achievement of "The Institute" is that its cast kept straight faces long enough to shoot this risible gothic chiller.

Mar 2, 2017

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Todd Jorgenson

Cinemalogue

The tedious film traverses familiar lurid territory involving resourceful heroines and corrupt doctors.

Jul 7, 2017

Full Review

Matt Donato

Film Journal International

James Franco's outdated glimpse inside Rosewood Institute strives for 19th-century chills, but this "based on a true story" sedative packs little genre significance.

Mar 2, 2017

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Stephen G

Never has a film and it's actors made me so angry that I actually leaned in to punch my television. Bravo, this truly was an epic ride into delusional behaviors and active so overwhelming insane. I really enjoyed the story and to go into it as I'd based on true events was shocking but very believable, it plays into most thoughts of the wealthy buying and trading souls for their pleasure. If even half of the story depicted here is true, I for one am grateful for the record keeping of such blatant tragedies upon the poor souls already struggling in the lives. Bravo once again... Bravo...

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/24/25

Full Review

Zach M

The true story would have made a great true crime film, unfortunately this film is a stinking pile of hit garbage. Barely coherent writing and terrible acting with few plot points that make any real sense. Don’t do it. Don’t waste your time.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

08/19/25

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Wam M

Terrible movie that's stupid from the get go.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

10/23/24

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KerryWhite's S

Rating: 5/10. 56/100

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

09/27/23

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Audience Member

For the most part, I found the performances here to be unconvincing and made even worse by the far too menacing, dark tone. Where it messes up most is when you think it's about to be over and then find out there was still another 35-40 minutes, though the end was good despite not being all too sure how factual the events were. It's not Shakespeare but I don't think it's as bad as some of the reviews suggest... but who really knows, this is just another one of my secondhand movie reviews.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

Audience Member

institute is a slow-moving film. The movie does have a creepy atmosphere and I could see what the movie tried to do but the problem is the script is weak the pacing is bad in the movie needs to be bigger budget. It almost feels like a poor man’s eyes wide shut. A lot of it just doesn’t add up in the end it comes off a bit ridiculous.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/20/21

Full Review

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The Institute: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Subjected to bizarre and increasingly violent pseudo-scientific experiments in personality modification, brainwashing and mind control, Isabel Porter must escape the clutches of the Rosewood Institute and exact her revenge -- or be forever lost.

Director: James Franco, Pamela Romanowsky
Producer: Christa Campbell, Jay Davis, Brian Esquivel, Lati Grobman, James Franco, Scott Reed
Screenwriter: Adam Rager, Matt Rager
Distributor: Momentum Pictures
Production Co: Rabbit Bandini Productions, Parkside Pictures
Rating: R (Graphic Nudity|Disturbing Content|Bloody Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 3, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 4, 2017
Runtime: 1h 30m

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