The Mill

If you have felt like your work is monotonous and pointless. Or your getting nowhere in your career or life. And thought of just downing tools. Ever realised you could make things better at work if the workforce all pulled together....or felt like the management dont listen or see you as a number, there to do their bidding.....youll get this movie.

All the bad reviews on here i think are from people expecting something akin to the Saw series or similar one location horror/thrillers......this isnt that, if you watch and put it in the context of your own dissatisfied work life youll see how smart and poignant this movie is.

Well acted by Lil Rel Howery, the end could have been better but i felt like this movie spoke to me and how i feel about my boring, unfulfilling job.

Happy Huluween, Streamers! Yes, Hulu is back with their Horror/Halloween section of movies for the Halloween Season. One of their offerings piqued my interest based on the main actor and the simple concept, The Mill. This streaming movie features a businessman (Lil Rel Howery) who mysteriously wakes up in an open-air prison cell with only a primitive grinding mill. He's forced to work until he can find a way back before the birth of his first child. Covid type movie hijinks ensue.

As you can tell, this movie really is quite singular and feels like a classic Covid era movie. All we have is Lil Rel and some voice work to get us through about an hour and forty minutes. I like Rel but this isn't really his acting range. Don't get me wrong he does a good job, and the movie really wouldn't have been anything without him. He knows how to act panicked but sometimes it just comes off as whiny! Anyway, the idea is original and semi-frightening. Remind me not to sign any disclosures without reading them again. But really there's not much to the movie other than Rel and they still make us watch for an hour and 40 minutes! I mean have a build-up but come on already.

Simply put, this movie while imaginative lacks imagination. The Mill is literally, and metaphorically, pushed along by the charisma of Lil Rel Howery. That's not enough to make this a movie you have to run to see. Grab a handful of popcorn and check out The Mill to support our guy when you have a chance.

"The Mill" is a cinematic gem that had me glued to my couch from start to finish. This suspenseful film masterfully unfolds a gripping storyline, gradually revealing its secrets, and culminating in a breathtaking plot twist that will leave you utterly astonished.

From the very beginning, "The Mill" captivates the audience with its intriguing premise. Set in a small, seemingly peaceful room/building, the film immerses you in a world where secrets lurk behind every corner and wall which make t he atmosphere be thick with tension. It certainly gave me "The Platform" (Netflix) vibes!

The characters in "The Mill" are well-crafted and our protagonist, Joe, did a great job in his role expressing different emotions.

One of the movie's strongest aspects is its pacing. The plot unravels with precision, divulging key details and clues at the perfect moments. This gradual revelation of the story's secrets is what makes "The Mill" so enthralling. It keeps you guessing, piecing together the puzzle as the narrative cleverly unfolds.

In conclusion, "The Mill" is an exceptional thriller that will keep you riveted to your couch throughout its runtime. Its suspenseful storytelling, well-developed characters, and jaw-dropping plot twist make it a must-watch for fans of the genre. Prepare to be enthralled, surprised, and utterly captivated by this cinematic tour de force.

Had no idea what this movie was when I fired it up, and thought it was just going to be a straight up saw or cube genre horror flick. Its not far off from that, but its different. For those that have experienced being middle management at large growth corporations (in my case hi-tech) and have been subjected to their tactics, with management trees, illusion of choice, moving targets, unobtainable goals, and performance plans/metrics, (they left out ESG, DEI, volunteering, and encouraged donations) will relate to what this movie is relaying through its bleak surface level metaphor. Others will say, just leave or work somewhere else but also dont understand the golden handcuff stuff that makes it lucrative to continue to give them the best years of your lives in spite of the long hours and sleepless frustration. Either way, I thought it was simply demonstrated in an entertaining way with bleak atmosphere and a good caricature lead to transfer the emotion and frustration. Now, back to work.

There is nothing really original in the background or overall structure of THE MILL. We've seen the setup before, many times. But hey, the story is boss and, equally, so is the telling of the story.

This is a great little story, and it's well told.

The lead character is annoying, but as things go on you begin to suspect his irritating abrasiveness hides a plot purpose. In fact you begin to suspect lots of things.

And that's good mystery. That's GOOD writing!

We are in the middle of a writing desert, which nobody seems to have an explanation for. We are drowning in boring-recycled-style over any kind of substance.

This makes things like THE MILL a pleasant relief.

If you like the original BLACK MIRROR (when it was good and Charlie Brooker was on fire with his creative control), you'll recognise and like THE MILL. I'm sure of it.

If I could criticise it, it's too long and the ending is too drawn out, but I can't go into details without spoiling it. Nothing wrecks the story.

A solid 7 in my book.