MGM+ is full of surprises - first their flagship sci-fi thriller From (2022-) and now they have delivered one of the best Stephen King adaptations ever put to screen. It’s a haunting mystery that methodically unravels - this is everything The New Mutants (2020) should have been and more. Plus the reimagining of Tears for Fears “Shout” as the theme won’t be out of my psyche for days!

 

Full of young talent that really come into their own as children with telekinetic (TKs) and telepathic (TPs) powers. Luke Ellis is our point of engagement, Joe Freeman is fairly new to the acting scene and his performance here is top of the line, it feels genuine and comes off as a kid that’s holding a large defense against the adults in his life. Luke is a “genius” outside of the confines of the institute and his fellow inmates plan to use his IQ to worship a method of escape. 

 

Headmaster of the institute, Ms. Sigsby - played by Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds) is a hardened boss that isn’t afraid of her surroundings and holds back any level of emotion from the public’s eye with irritation. Head of security, Stackhouse as played by Julian Richings, known as one of the greatest characters in the history of Supernatural - Death, is easy to be engrossed in as he carries with him a similar stone-faced exterior as the institute's head of security. Parker and Richings have an infectious rivalry on screen, that is hidden in secrecy to outdo and better one another’s personal careers. There are other members of the staff present throughout - Tony (Jason Diaz) who is the easiest to hate as he is the most maniacal and truthful with his intentions, Maureen (Jane Luk) who is a sole member of the maintenance crew and appears to have a heart that’s afraid to reveal itself in fear of being eliminated, and head of medical Hendricks (Robert Joy) who is present to get the best possible results he can “ethically” find. Others roam the facilities but these five are the ones of note that will make the biggest impact throughout the experience within the walls of the institute. 

 

Outside of the walls, newcomer Tim Jamieson, played by Ben Barnes, reluctantly joins the police force as a local night knocker (someone that patrols the area and makes sure doors are secure). Jamieson has joined a population full of mystery and danger without ever knowing what he’d stepped into until it’s too late to reverse. Cogs are in place throughout the network to assist in securing the anonymity of what occurs within the restricted areas of town. Once a celebrated cop that resigned due to an incident off duty, Jamieson will stop at nothing to make sure this mystery is solved once and for all.  

 

Taking place over 8 episodes, this 576 page book has time to be fully fleshed out on screen. As a fan of King, but not someone that had read this particular novel - I deep dived into the accuracy of the translation between word to screen. Luckily - it’s almost entirely accurate. Fans of the novel should be pleased that it’s a live depiction of what they had read and people unknown to the property will encounter plentiful surprises along the path to the finale. It’s a piece of work that is best once the entire picture is drawn out and so it’s urgent that viewers give the film time to breathe beyond its initial premiere, because the premiere especially is a bit of a slow burn reveal. 

 

The production design is exceptional, aspiring to be a mental institution in appearance alone from the top half, prison from the outside and absolute nightmare from the basement level - all under the watchful eye of the higher ups. 

 

As a series that utilizes powers of the mind, the direction decisions don’t always influence the best reaction - using slowed down, blurred visuals to depict mental capabilities - this is more so an issue in the later episodes. That’s what throws a wrench in the love for this series overall is its choice from time to time from a directing standpoint, occasionally it comes off as more a budget restriction and less a creative liberty. 

 

The Institute a grim, bleak and eerie tale that will have you on the edge of your seat for a majority of the season’s eight episodes. Led by top notch performances, it’s genuinely impressive how enthralling this story becomes and by the time the mystery reveals itself to the fullest degree - the audience will want nothing else but its ultimate downfall. It’s common theory that King doesn’t quite know how to land a story and this series doesn’t suffer from this notable illusion - although it does leave many doors open if there is to be any continuation.