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The Machinist

Play trailer 1:45 Poster for The Machinist R 2004 1h 41m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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77% Tomatometer 141 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
Factory worker Trevor Reznik (Christian Bale) suffers from insomnia so severe that his condition has taken its toll on his weight and his mental health. When Trevor unintentionally causes an on-the-job accident that horribly injures a coworker (Michael Ironside), he begins to become even more troubled. Despite a relationship with Stevie (Jennifer Jason Leigh), a pretty prostitute, Trevor descends further into paranoia, blaming his problems on an enigmatic figure named Ivan (John Sharian).
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The Machinist

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Critics Consensus

Brad Anderson's dark psychological thriller about a sleepless factory worker is elevated by Christian Bale astonishingly committed performance.

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Critics Reviews

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Andrea Gronvall Chicago Reader 10/24/2011
Until now Bale's screen persona has been defined by a graceful athleticism; here his physicality is repellent, yet he carries the occasionally creaky plot of Scott Kosar's unsettling screenplay to a resonant finish. Go to Full Review Ian Nathan Empire Magazine 04/01/2006
3/5
A few scenes into the gloom and you'll have a good idea what is generally up, if not the specifics, making the journey toward the eventual, inevitable twist fairly one-dimensional. Go to Full Review Geoff Andrew Time Out 02/09/2006
One can't deny the dubious appeal of the spectacle of the skin-and-bone Bale, quite possibly endangering his health for the sake of his art. Go to Full Review Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com 08/04/2024
FIVE STARS
"The Machinist" is a well-crafted psychological thriller about self-deception and tragedy, told against an eerie landscape of terrifying dislocation and isolation. This is one effed up horror movie. Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 03/12/2013
B+
Film4 Staff Film4 10/24/2011
3/5
If Nine Inch Nails, Swans and Ministry ever loomed large in the landscape of your imagination, Anderson's gloomy aesthetic may exert a sour but lingering pull. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Oaklee D @ODie63 19h A mind bending thriller with a fantastic performance by Christian Bale. This film does a great job of dragging you into its own little twisted world. See more Man S @Bigduck Apr 4 A decent film Christian bale looks dreadful and In need of a good feed..The end of the film is a let down and I expected better because of how good it was at the beginning,but overall pretty good. See more Calvin T @Calvin504 Feb 5 I like the way the story was told but the conclusion sucked See more Breathe J @SilverScreenSweetheart Jan 27 Dark, haunting, and intensely psychological. Like Taxi Driver, on steroids. Christian Bale is a breathtakingly brilliant method actor. His complete transformation in this film is astonishing. Where the hell is his Oscar? See more Chris T @ctrellc Jan 4 Kept waiting for a payoff that never came See more VITALII H @freakynickison Dec 22 Honestly I expected to be left without any context or explanation before the ending, kinda like "American psycho" (2000), which btw is like this movie’s sibling. But I’m glad that we got a solid glimpse at what happened and how we got to this point. Christian Bale’s dedication to this role, to his commitment in general, needs to be studied and more appreciated. Overall it’s a solid movie. Unfortunately till we got to the climax we kinda check out throughout it’s running because the n my case I did not expect a great ending and some scenes felt dull. See more Read all reviews
The Machinist

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Cast & Crew

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Brad Anderson

Director

Christian Bale

Trevor Reznik

Jennifer Jason Leigh

Stevie

Aitana Sánchez-Gijón

Marie

John Sharian

Ivan

Michael Ironside

Miller

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The Machinist

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The Machinist

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Movie Info

Synopsis Factory worker Trevor Reznik (Christian Bale) suffers from insomnia so severe that his condition has taken its toll on his weight and his mental health. When Trevor unintentionally causes an on-the-job accident that horribly injures a coworker (Michael Ironside), he begins to become even more troubled. Despite a relationship with Stevie (Jennifer Jason Leigh), a pretty prostitute, Trevor descends further into paranoia, blaming his problems on an enigmatic figure named Ivan (John Sharian).
Director
Brad Anderson
Producer
Julio Fernández
Screenwriter
Scott Kosar
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Castelao Producciones S.A., Filmax, Fantastic Factory (Filmax)
Rating
R (Language|Disturbing Images|Sexuality|Violence)
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 22, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
May 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.1M
Runtime
1h 41m
Sound Mix
Surround