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The Machinist
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Metascore
61 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 32 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.8 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 70 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Starring: Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh
  • Summary: Trevor Reznik has not slept for a year. His every waking minute has become an unremitting nightmare of confusion, paranoia, guilt, anxiety and terror - each of which is part of an escalating series of clues that will lead to the source of his mysterious affliction. (Paramount Classics)

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 32
  3. Negative: 2 out of 32
  1. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Duane Byrge
    90
    A brilliantly honed tale of dementia, starring a skeletal Christian Bale as a tormented insomniac wasting away and terrorized by his irreal existence.
  2. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Maitland McDonagh
    60
    Anderson is a master of detail, from the film's ubiquitous fish motif to the elaborate carnival set piece that unfolds inside the claustrophobic confines of a spook-house ride called "Route 666."
  3. Premiere
    Reviewed by: Peter Debruge
    38
    Director Brad Anderson (Session 9) overtly cribs from everyone from Dostoevsky to Kafka.

See all 32 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 31
  3. Negative: 4 out of 31
  1. grandpajoe6191
    8
    Director Brad Anderson's "The Machinist" provides a great script with precise dialogue. However the film mostly succeeds in shocking the audience by the amazing performance of Christian Bale.… Expand
    • 4 of 4 users said yes
  2. TimH
    4
    If you've seen any episode of Serling's Twilight Zone, you've already seen The Machinist.
    • 0 of 2 users said yes
  3. HalifaxR.
    2
    This is Memento for half-wits. It's mostly shots of Christian Bale looking at his emaciated body in the mirror. The film is a slow and painful plodding toward a twist ending. And sure, there's a twist, but it comes perfectly gift wrapped in in slow-motion after-school special cheese that in no way justifies the preceding hours of over-serious, over-stylized boredom. Everyone's impressed that Christian Bale lost one third of his body weight for a role but this movie is so hollow and poorly written it comes off as a depressing publicity stunt.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 31 User Reviews

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