The Institute

In 19th century Baltimore, Isabel Porter is crushed by the sudden death of her parents and seeks relief at a secluded clinic called the Rosewood Institute. Inside, doctors subject her to strange pseudo scientific procedures that claim to remodel personality through early mind control and social manipulation. The atmosphere grows claustrophobic as experiments intensify, blurring the line between care and coercion. Isabel clings to her memories and her sense of self while the staff push for obedience, threatening to erase her identity entirely. She begins plotting an escape that could free her or seal her fate, and revenge becomes a possible, perilous aim. Her resolve hardens when a turn of events reveals the true cost of the treatment.

Directed by Pamela Romanowsky and James Franco, The Institute is based on an original screenplay by Matt and Adam Rager. Made with a budget of 3 million, the thriller was released to limited circuits in 2017, with a measured online presence afterwards.

Critics offered mixed reactions to The Institute, praising atmosphere and performances while noting uneven pace. The film probes grief and the ethical cost of mind control experiments within a haunted institution, using a claustrophobic setting and stark visuals to unsettle without relying on excess gore. Some viewers note a deliberate pace that rewards patience. The film invites discussion about memory manipulation and the ethics of medical experimentation.

Box office details were not widely disclosed and the film had a limited release in select markets, a modest theatrical footprint, and later availability on streaming platforms and home video, with international distribution limited and no broad nationwide rollout. It was shown in limited territories and did not secure a wide release.

No major awards or nominations are listed for The Institute in standard databases. The movie did not figure prominently at large film ceremonies, though it has drawn interest from indie thriller fans and observers of collaborations between Franco and Romanowsky. It remains a niche title within the genre. Its reception may shift as more viewers discover it on streaming services.