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The Mill

  • 2023
  • 1h 46m
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
3.8K
YOUR RATING
Lil Rel Howery in The Mill (2023)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer1:34
1 Video
2 Photos
DramaMysterySci-FiThriller

A businessman mysteriously wakes up in an open-air prison cell with only an old grist mill. Forced to work as a beast of burden, he must find a way to escape before the birth of his child.A businessman mysteriously wakes up in an open-air prison cell with only an old grist mill. Forced to work as a beast of burden, he must find a way to escape before the birth of his child.A businessman mysteriously wakes up in an open-air prison cell with only an old grist mill. Forced to work as a beast of burden, he must find a way to escape before the birth of his child.

  • Director
    • Sean King O'Grady
  • Writer
    • Jeffrey David Thomas
  • Stars
    • Lil Rel Howery
    • Pat Healy
    • Karen Obilom
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.4/10
    3.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Sean King O'Grady
    • Writer
      • Jeffrey David Thomas
    • Stars
      • Lil Rel Howery
      • Pat Healy
      • Karen Obilom
    • 41User reviews
    • 16Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:34
    Official Trailer

    Photos1

    View Poster

    Top cast10

    Edit
    Lil Rel Howery
    Lil Rel Howery
    • Joe
    Pat Healy
    Pat Healy
    • Guard
    Karen Obilom
    Karen Obilom
    • Kate
    Patrick Fischler
    Patrick Fischler
    • Neighbor
    Getchie Argetsinger
    Getchie Argetsinger
    • Gertrude
    Jaiden K. Brown
    • Joe Jr.
    Blair Wilson
    • Shadow Joe
    Aliya Robinson
    • Shadow Kate
    Kevin D. Benton
    Kevin D. Benton
    • Mallard Office Worker
    • (uncredited)
    John Martineau
    • Mallard Human Resources
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Sean King O'Grady
    • Writer
      • Jeffrey David Thomas
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews41

    5.43.7K
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    Featured reviews

    6tbsqvhpvjq

    A bit of a slow burn but stick with it.

    This thriller seems to plod along without super strong thrills, but its goal is to make the audience think, which I felt it accomplished. Heavy on symbolism and strong performances helped me enjoy this maybe a bit more than some of the other reviewers, I don't know and I don't want to presume. Lil Rel, whom I had only seen previously in Get Out, sheds the comic relief role of that film for a nuanced lead in this one and is effective as he carries the movie visually with most interactions with other characters being strictly vocal. I would recommend it for those who prefer atmospheric movies, and those who prefer action should probably steer clear.
    8NEXUSNLW

    Great Allegory

    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.
    8alishab420

    Like BLACK MIRROR?! You'll LOVE this!!!

    Super suspenseful and VERY much like a Black Mirror episode, just movie length!! Really wild ride indeed!!

    The premise is wildly unique and there is no way you see the ending coming...

    I truly think that if you go into fairly with no forced expectations, you will really enjoy this!!

    I had NO clue what I was in for and I knew nothing about the movie before watching it... and I recommend you do the same!

    It definitely has moments that are scary, ONLY because they are teetering on the edge of realistic and possible!

    Rel did a great job with the character and it honestly keeps you guessing until the VERY end!

    Give it a go!
    8HorrorFilmHellion

    Slave to the grind

    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.
    vn_larsen1

    Wow...that was bad.

    A wildly misguided and not at all subtle critique of capitalism, or "the grind" (like a mill. See not very subtle). Is anyone really stupid enough to believe this showing is even remotely related to actual capitalism? A trillion-dollar company, calling literal slaves their "employees", can do anything they want because the employee "didn't read the fine print" when signing their introduction paperwork. This director is one of those people who think modern day employees are slaves because they have to work for money instead of being handed everything for free. That even though the employees willing volunteered to work for the company and can leave at any time, the company is evil for making the person work. These kind people think of themselves as actual slaves, like the man in this movie, and there's nothing they can do to escape. That companies who make their employees work are literal slave masters forcing people to work so they aren't killed. Nevermind how incredibly obvious the metaphor, it's also just extremely inaccurate. However, I gave it 2 stars instead of just 1 because there is something to said about quotas and how there are definitely companies that do not reward employees that work hard and therefore give no incentive to continue working hard. That is a legitimate critique. Also, the ending was absolutely terrible. All that aside, Lil Rey cannot carry a movie by himself. He is comedic relief and that is where he shines. Also, what business manager working for a trillion-dollar company wears Nikes with their suit? I'm just not impressed at all.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to Sean King O'Grady, Lil Rel Howery chose not to know where the filming location was set and was literally blindfolded as he entered the set.
    • Quotes

      Joe: Is that a 'wow good' or a 'wow bad'?

    • Soundtracks
      The Nutcracker Suite Op. 71a - Dance of the Reed-Flutes
      Written by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

      Courtesy of APM Music

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 9, 2023 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El molino
    • Production companies
      • 20th Digital Studio
      • Altar Rock
      • Death Ground
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 46 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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