Spiderhead

Netflix's“Spiderhead” see Chris Hemsworth in a quite different role that his more titular role as Thor ,that is doing the rounds on the big screen this Summer. Here Hemsworth plays a clinical trial scientist ( Dr Steve Abnesti) in charge of inmates of prison system subject to a with an open-door policy that allows the incarcerated to have social independency with their fellow inmates.The only catch is , to stay in they must volunteer to be Subjects to a series of chemical trials that when dosed subjects are motivated into tasks that would not naturally do.It's a great starting premise ,with some of the situations that arise are quite humourous when played through. Two of the main inmates we follow( played by Miles Teller (Jeff) and Jurnee Smollett( Lizzie) who are both guilt ridden about their past,and are both subject to the trials. However, as time goes on ,as other drugs with more negative affects are introduced. Highlights here are the conflict of wills between Jeff and Dr Steve ,but the story itself feels like a short story more suited to maybe a 'Black Mirror' episode, and the plot outstays its welcome with its feature-length run time.Hemsworth is fine, with a quirky performance reminiscent of Oscar Issac in Ex- Machina , losing himself to the odd disco numbers when takes his fancy.Milles Teller makes it watchable , as he struggles to navigate his own guilt and the psychological horrors of Dr Steve, as his starts to question the true agency of the experiment. Good, but a premise that outstays its welcome.