The Mill

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The Mill

2023

1h 46m

Sci-Fi

Mystery & Thriller

Horror

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Popcornmeter

46%

Tomatometer

13 Reviews

48%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

In a near future hyper-capitalist America, Joe is a rising star at Mallard, a mega-corporation whose market dominance surpasses Amazon and Apple combined. Devoted to his family and fixated on success, his life unravels into an enigmatic nightmare when he wakes up in an open-air prison cell with no memory of how he got there. Bewilderingly, the prison cell is centered around an archaic grist mill — a stark symbol of relentless labor. Surrounded by unexplained screams in the darkness and whispers from unseen cellmates, he begins to grapple with the chilling revelation: his omnipotent employer, Mallard, operates this prison. Shrouded in confusion, Joe believes there must be a mix-up. But as the harsh light of day dawns, the horrific reality sets in — this is 'Advanced Career Training.' Accused of underperforming, Joe is compelled to push the grist mill to meet a daily quota or face ‘termination.' "The Mill" is an Orwellian nightmare steeped in Kafka-esque horror, exploring themes of corporate dehumanization, AI domination, and the erosion of personal freedom. As Joe races against time to escape before his son's birth, he plunges deeper into the sinister belly of Mallard, confronting startling revelations about its true nature. In a world where profit supersedes humanity, will Joe reclaim his freedom, or be crushed under the weight of the ruthless system that has imprisoned him?

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Robert Levin

Newsday

It's first-rate genre filmmaking, suspenseful and thoughtful at the same time.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 31, 2024

Full Review

Nick Allen

RogerEbert.com

[A] lackluster horror experiment.

Rated: 2/4

Oct 9, 2023

Full Review

Brandon Yu

New York Times

The film lacks any well-executed surprises to help it push past one-dimensional satire, and Howery is not strong enough of a dramatic actor to keep a single-setting, single-character film like this consistently engaging.

Oct 9, 2023

Full Review

Murjani Rawls

Draftkings Nation

We’re supposed to be as furious as Joe is and heed the call to action to recontextualize where we are as workers. It just wastes the urgency that it looks to build earlier in the film so much that the fire and fury wear off.

Nov 7, 2023

Full Review

Savina Petkova

A Good Movie To Watch

The issue is that, aside from this smart use of symbolism, The Mill plays it rather safe by relating dystopia to capitalism.

Rated: 6.5/10

Oct 29, 2023

Full Review

Common Sense Media Editors

Common Sense Media

But the film's message becomes diluted and harrowing to absorb by the fact we're watching a Black man being tortured for being too good at what he does.

Rated: 2/5

Oct 18, 2023

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John W

I liked the film, but found it a bit too long for how little actually happens. The ending gave me some Black Mirror vibes, although as part of Black Mirror, the film wouldn't be one of the better episodes. Still not bad.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

08/17/25

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Drew F

This movie is entertaining. Lil Rel does a fine job in the lead role. Thought the story was neat too.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/07/25

Full Review

Ralph R

The Mill has an interesting premise but struggles to deliver on its potential. The story stays confined to one location, which could have been a great opportunity for creative cinematography, but it felt underutilized. The visuals weren’t bad, but they didn’t stand out either, which made the film feel flat. As for Lil Rel Howery, his performance seemed forced at times, almost as if he was imitating other actors, which made it hard to connect with his character. The plot itself is painfully predictable, including its supposed twist. While the movie does manage to get its message across, it does so in the most obvious way possible, leaving little to ponder once it’s over. The score, if there was one, didn’t leave much of an impression. Oddly enough, a minor character towards the end felt more engaging than the lead, adding a small spark to an otherwise uninspired narrative. The Mill tries to make a point but stumbles over its own execution, making it a forgettable watch.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/30/25

Full Review

Obi-wan K

This movie wasn't bad at all in my opinion

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/26/24

Full Review

Tym M

I know a lot of people hated this movie, but I feel like those that hated it, are the ones who are the problem the movie hints about. Fascinating and kept me in suspense the whole time. I would recommend this not just because the idea is good, but the actor makes it more believable. Now, when the ending comes, I won't ruin it, but I will say, I did say that the movie was good, and I would recommend it, but that doesn't mean I liked the ending. But it was not as bad as the "surprise" you get from a Jordan Peele movie.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/05/24

Full Review

Kiaya b

All tho people may say it’s ass over all the movie was great it just shows how much work pushes u but it’s never enough the ending was not what i was expecting as Well overall I’d say it’s great to watch if you’re just looking for something or just bored in general

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/22/24

Full Review

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Sean King O'Grady

Director

Lil Rel Howery

Joe

Pat Healy

Guard

Karen Obilom

Kate

Patrick Fischler

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Getchie Argetsinger

Gertrude

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Synopsis

In a near future hyper-capitalist America, Joe is a rising star at Mallard, a mega-corporation whose market dominance surpasses Amazon and Apple combined. Devoted to his family and fixated on success, his life unravels into an enigmatic nightmare when he wakes up in an open-air prison cell with no memory of how he got there. Bewilderingly, the prison cell is centered around an archaic grist mill — a stark symbol of relentless labor. Surrounded by unexplained screams in the darkness and whispers from unseen cellmates, he begins to grapple with the chilling revelation: his omnipotent employer, Mallard, operates this prison. Shrouded in confusion, Joe believes there must be a mix-up. But as the harsh light of day dawns, the horrific reality sets in — this is 'Advanced Career Training.' Accused of underperforming, Joe is compelled to push the grist mill to meet a daily quota or face ‘termination.' "The Mill" is an Orwellian nightmare steeped in Kafka-esque horror, exploring themes of corporate dehumanization, AI domination, and the erosion of personal freedom. As Joe races against time to escape before his son's birth, he plunges deeper into the sinister belly of Mallard, confronting startling revelations about its true nature. In a world where profit supersedes humanity, will Joe reclaim his freedom, or be crushed under the weight of the ruthless system that has imprisoned him?

Director: Sean King O'Grady
Producer: Josh Feldman, Brooke Goldner, Lil Rel Howery, Barbara Goldner, Sean King O'Grady, Jesse Ford
Screenwriter: Jeffrey David Thomas
Distributor: Hulu
Production Co: 20th Digital Studio
Genre: Sci-Fi, Mystery & Thriller, Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 9, 2023
Runtime: 1h 46m

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