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Spiderhead

Spiderhead is a 2022 American science-fiction psychological thriller film directed by Joseph Kosinski and released on Netflix.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Spiderhead is a 2022 American science-fiction psychological thriller film directed by Joseph Kosinski and released on Netflix. It is based on George Saunders’s 2010 short story “Escape from Spiderhead” and stars Chris Hemsworth, Miles Teller, and Jurnee Smollett.

Plot

Spiderhead follows inmates at an experimental correctional facility who test emotion-altering drugs. The story develops around the ethical and psychological consequences of manipulating human feelings and behaviour.

Production and release

The film was directed by Joseph Kosinski and written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. It premiered in Sydney in June 2022 and was released worldwide on Netflix shortly afterward.

Source material

The film is based on George Saunders’s short story “Escape from Spiderhead,” which appeared in *The New Yorker* and later in the collection *Tenth of December*. The adaptation retains the story’s focus on coercion, experimentation, and moral ambiguity.

Reception and themes

Reviews described the film as a science-fiction thriller with psychological, darkly comic, and dystopian elements. Its central themes include consent, manipulation, technology, and the limits of free will.

Key facts

  • The film is set in a near-future prison where inmates volunteer for drug experiments in exchange for lighter conditions.
  • Its plot centres on mind-altering substances that affect emotion, behaviour, and free will.
  • Chris Hemsworth plays Steve Abnesti, the facility’s scientist and administrator.
  • Miles Teller plays Jeff, one of the inmates who begins questioning the experiments and their consequences.
  • The film premiered in June 2022 and began streaming on Netflix on June 17, 2022.
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Canadian context

The film was available to Canadian viewers through Netflix, and its themes of science, ethics, and incarceration may be of interest to Canadian audiences.

Frequently asked questions

What is Spiderhead about?
It follows inmates in a futuristic prison who volunteer for drug testing in exchange for privileges, while one prisoner begins to question the experiments and their effects on free will.
Who directed Spiderhead?
Spiderhead was directed by Joseph Kosinski.
What is Spiderhead based on?
It is based on George Saunders’s short story “Escape from Spiderhead.”
Who stars in Spiderhead?
The film stars Chris Hemsworth, Miles Teller, and Jurnee Smollett.
When was Spiderhead released?
It was released on Netflix on June 17, 2022.
What genre is Spiderhead?
It is generally described as a science-fiction psychological thriller, with dystopian and dark-comedy elements.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiderhead
    Supports: Basic film identification, release year, director, cast, source material, and release date.
  2. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/80210767
    Supports: Official synopsis and streaming release context.
  3. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/spiderhead-movie-review-2022
    Supports: Plot description and thematic overview.
  4. IGN — https://www.ign.com/articles/spiderhead-review-chris-hemsworth-netflix
    Supports: Netflix release date and general genre framing.
  5. The Guardian — https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/jun/13/spiderhead-review-netflix-prison-experiment-fable-is-going-nowhere
    Supports: Adaptation details, director, writers, source story, and release context.