The film explores complex psychological and social issues through its sci-fi lens: Spiderhead (2022) - Plot - IMDb
Led by the charismatic but manipulative visionary Steve Abnesti (Chris Hemsworth), inmates are fitted with surgically attached devices that administer dosages of mind-altering pharmaceuticals.
Inmates volunteer to become medical subjects for experimental drug trials in exchange for commuted sentences and a more comfortable living environment—no bars, cells, or traditional orange jumpsuits.
As Jeff (Miles Teller), one of the inmates, begins to form a deep connection with another subject, Lizzy (Jurnee Smollett), he starts to question the reality of his emotions and the true ethics behind Abnesti's experiments. Key Thematic Elements
The story is set in the near future within a state-of-the-art, "luxurious" penitentiary known as Spiderhead.