Spiderhead

Did You Know?

• The film's world premiere was held at The Entertainment Quarter in Sydney, Australia, on June 11, 2022.
• Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos confirmed in April 2021 that the film was expected to premiere in the fourth quarter of 2021.
• Miles Teller and Joseph Kosinski previously worked together on Top Gun: Maverick.

Plot

Spiderhead is a state-of-the-art penitentiary where research chemicals are tested on volunteer prisoners, who hope to reduce their sentences. The program is run by the sympathetic Steve Abnesti and his assistant Mark. Inmates have private rooms, do chores, and move freely without guards. Daily tests involve drugs that alter emotions and perceptions. Inmate Jeff, grieving after killing his friend in a drunk-driving accident, receives N-40, a love drug that distorts his senses and leads him to have sex with two fellow inmates. Steve asks Jeff to choose which of the two women should receive Darkenfloxx, a drug causing intense fear and psychological pain. Jeff declines, saying he feels nothing for either after the love drug wears off. Mark helps Steve administer N-40 to himself. The next day, Steve tells Jeff that the younger woman, Heather, must receive a five-minute dose of Darkenfloxx. Jeff reluctantly agrees, and Heather commits suicide while on the drug after damaging her MobiPak, the drug-delivery device. This shakes Mark's faith in their work. Steve drops his keys while rushing out; Jeff unlocks Steve's desk and discovers there are no higher-ups—the prison is run by Abnesti Pharmaceuticals, and the drugs were named from a bingo card. Steve and Jeff get high on a laughing drug; Steve has his own MobiPak. Steve reveals his father abandoned him as a child. Jeff confesses to inmate Lizzy that he killed both his friend and his girlfriend in the accident. They kiss. Steve notices Jeff's feelings for Lizzy. Mark breaks down when Jeff confronts him.

Production

The short story 'Escape from Spiderhead' was published in The New Yorker in 2010 and later appeared in George Saunders's collection Tenth of December in 2013. A film adaptation was announced in February 2019, with Joseph Kosinski directing from a screenplay by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. Chris Hemsworth, Miles Teller, and Jurnee Smollett joined the cast in September 2020. Principal photography began in early November 2020 in Queensland, Australia, following a AU$21.58 million investment from the Australian Government, shared with the production of Pieces of Her. Filming locations included the Gold Coast, Darlington, the Whitsundays, Hinze Dam, and Tallebudgera Valley.