The Institute

Play trailer

2:03

The Institute

R

2017

1h 30m

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

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.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

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James Franco's outdated glimpse inside Rosewood Institute strives for 19th-century chills, but this "based on a true story" sedative packs little genre significance.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

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

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

James Franco

Director

Pamela Romanowsky

Director

James Franco

Dr. Cairn

Pamela Anderson

Ann Williams

Topher Grace

Vincent

Eric Roberts

Dr. Torrington

An Acceptable Loss

12%

71%

An Acceptable Loss

Watchlist

TRAILER

for An Acceptable Loss

Red Sparrow

45%

51%

Red Sparrow

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Red Sparrow

London Fields

0%

32%

London Fields

Watchlist

TRAILER

for London Fields

Revenge

92%

62%

Revenge

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Revenge

Bad Kids of Crestview Academy

10%

96%

Bad Kids of Crestview Academy

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Bad Kids of Crestview Academy

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

The Institute: Trailer 1

2:03

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

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

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings