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The Institute

Play trailer 2:03 Poster for The Institute R 2017 1h 30m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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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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The Institute

Critics Reviews

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Brian Tallerico RogerEbert.com Mar 3, 2017
1/4
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. Go to Full Review Clayton Dillard Slant Magazine Mar 2, 2017
1/4
The Institute seems constantly on the verge of dipping into spoof, though of what exactly is difficult to say. Go to Full Review Gary Goldstein Los Angeles Times Mar 2, 2017
The main achievement of "The Institute" is that its cast kept straight faces long enough to shoot this risible gothic chiller. Go to Full Review Todd Jorgenson Cinemalogue Jul 7, 2017
The tedious film traverses familiar lurid territory involving resourceful heroines and corrupt doctors. Go to Full Review Matt Donato Film Journal International Mar 2, 2017
James Franco's outdated glimpse inside Rosewood Institute strives for 19th-century chills, but this "based on a true story" sedative packs little genre significance. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen G @patient1 Sep 24, 2025 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... See more Zach M @RT09431760 Aug 19, 2025 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. See more Wam M @RT71846826 Oct 23, 2024 Terrible movie that's stupid from the get go. See more KerryWhite's S @KerryWhite77 Sep 27, 2023 Rating: 5/10. 56/100 See more Jeffrey P @vanillavoodoo1 Jan 23, 2022 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. See more Feb 20, 2021 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. See more Read all reviews
The Institute

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Cast & Crew

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James Franco

Director

Pamela Romanowsky

Director

James Franco

Dr. Cairn

Pamela Anderson

Ann Williams

Topher Grace

Vincent

Eric Roberts

Dr. Torrington

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The Institute

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The Institute

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Movie Info

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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