The Mill

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The Mill

2023

1h 46m

Sci-Fi

Mystery & Thriller

Horror

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Popcornmeter

46%

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13 Reviews

48%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

In a near future hyper-capitalist America, Joe is a rising star at Mallard, a mega-corporation whose market dominance surpasses Amazon and Apple combined. Devoted to his family and fixated on success, his life unravels into an enigmatic nightmare when he wakes up in an open-air prison cell with no memory of how he got there. Bewilderingly, the prison cell is centered around an archaic grist mill — a stark symbol of relentless labor. Surrounded by unexplained screams in the darkness and whispers from unseen cellmates, he begins to grapple with the chilling revelation: his omnipotent employer, Mallard, operates this prison. Shrouded in confusion, Joe believes there must be a mix-up. But as the harsh light of day dawns, the horrific reality sets in — this is 'Advanced Career Training.' Accused of underperforming, Joe is compelled to push the grist mill to meet a daily quota or face ‘termination.' "The Mill" is an Orwellian nightmare steeped in Kafka-esque horror, exploring themes of corporate dehumanization, AI domination, and the erosion of personal freedom. As Joe races against time to escape before his son's birth, he plunges deeper into the sinister belly of Mallard, confronting startling revelations about its true nature. In a world where profit supersedes humanity, will Joe reclaim his freedom, or be crushed under the weight of the ruthless system that has imprisoned him?

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Robert Levin

Newsday

Jan 31, 2024

3/4

It's first-rate genre filmmaking, suspenseful and thoughtful at the same time.

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Nick Allen

RogerEbert.com

Oct 9, 2023

2/4

[A] lackluster horror experiment.

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Brandon Yu

New York Times

Oct 9, 2023

The film lacks any well-executed surprises to help it push past one-dimensional satire, and Howery is not strong enough of a dramatic actor to keep a single-setting, single-character film like this consistently engaging.

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Murjani Rawls

Draftkings Nation

Nov 7, 2023

We’re supposed to be as furious as Joe is and heed the call to action to recontextualize where we are as workers. It just wastes the urgency that it looks to build earlier in the film so much that the fire and fury wear off.

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Savina Petkova

A Good Movie To Watch

Oct 29, 2023

6.5/10

The issue is that, aside from this smart use of symbolism, The Mill plays it rather safe by relating dystopia to capitalism.

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Common Sense Media Editors

Common Sense Media

Oct 18, 2023

2/5

But the film's message becomes diluted and harrowing to absorb by the fact we're watching a Black man being tortured for being too good at what he does.

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Nolan M

@vyzee Oct 30, 2026

My mind was just raped.

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John W

@RT18279564 Aug 17, 2025

I liked the film, but found it a bit too long for how little actually happens. The ending gave me some Black Mirror vibes, although as part of Black Mirror, the film wouldn't be one of the better episodes. Still not bad.

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Drew F

@Drewfrost20 Feb 7, 2025

This movie is entertaining. Lil Rel does a fine job in the lead role. Thought the story was neat too.

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Ralph R

@RT14837316 Jan 30, 2025

The Mill has an interesting premise but struggles to deliver on its potential. The story stays confined to one location, which could have been a great opportunity for creative cinematography, but it felt underutilized. The visuals weren’t bad, but they didn’t stand out either, which made the film feel flat. As for Lil Rel Howery, his performance seemed forced at times, almost as if he was imitating other actors, which made it hard to connect with his character. The plot itself is painfully predictable, including its supposed twist. While the movie does manage to get its message across, it does so in the most obvious way possible, leaving little to ponder once it’s over. The score, if there was one, didn’t leave much of an impression. Oddly enough, a minor character towards the end felt more engaging than the lead, adding a small spark to an otherwise uninspired narrative. The Mill tries to make a point but stumbles over its own execution, making it a forgettable watch.

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Obi-wan K

@Gordon_Freeman Dec 26, 2024

This movie wasn't bad at all in my opinion

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Sam A

@Padlock Feb 10, 2024

What a great film!! Really represents modern working conditions. No matter how hard you work, no one will thank you for it. It's always back to the grindstone. If you meet your targets and more, you end up screwing up your whole team. Such a genius film. Loved it! Really approved of the ending aswell.

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Sean King O'Grady

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Synopsis

In a near future hyper-capitalist America, Joe is a rising star at Mallard, a mega-corporation whose market dominance surpasses Amazon and Apple combined. Devoted to his family and fixated on success, his life unravels into an enigmatic nightmare when he wakes up in an open-air prison cell with no memory of how he got there. Bewilderingly, the prison cell is centered around an archaic grist mill — a stark symbol of relentless labor. Surrounded by unexplained screams in the darkness and whispers from unseen cellmates, he begins to grapple with the chilling revelation: his omnipotent employer, Mallard, operates this prison. Shrouded in confusion, Joe believes there must be a mix-up. But as the harsh light of day dawns, the horrific reality sets in — this is 'Advanced Career Training.' Accused of underperforming, Joe is compelled to push the grist mill to meet a daily quota or face ‘termination.' "The Mill" is an Orwellian nightmare steeped in Kafka-esque horror, exploring themes of corporate dehumanization, AI domination, and the erosion of personal freedom. As Joe races against time to escape before his son's birth, he plunges deeper into the sinister belly of Mallard, confronting startling revelations about its true nature. In a world where profit supersedes humanity, will Joe reclaim his freedom, or be crushed under the weight of the ruthless system that has imprisoned him?

Director: Sean King O'Grady
Producer: Josh Feldman, Brooke Goldner, Lil Rel Howery, Barbara Goldner, Sean King O'Grady, Jesse Ford
Screenwriter: Jeffrey David Thomas
Distributor: Hulu
Production Co: 20th Digital Studio
Genre: Sci-Fi, Mystery & Thriller, Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 9, 2023
Runtime: 1h 46m

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