The Discovery poster

The Discovery (2017)

Film · Drama, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, Mystery

TMDB6.31,466On 1 watchlist here

Stream it, ifif you prefer a heavy, philosophical inquiry over an action-oriented science fiction thriller.

A somber and high-concept drama that treats its fantastical premise with extreme seriousness. It is slow, contemplative, and intellectually stimulating, asking difficult questions about life and death without offering much warmth.

What The Discovery is like, and who it is for

What it is like to watch

Watching this film is a somber and clinical experience. It moves at a deliberate, slow pace, favouring muted colours and a quiet, intellectual intensity over spectacle. The atmosphere is thick with a sense of clinical detachment and existential weight, feeling more like a stage play or a philosophical essay than a traditional mystery. It treats its high-concept premise with extreme seriousness, maintaining a consistent tone of melancholic curiosity throughout.

Who it is for, and who should skip it

This is for viewers who enjoy 'hard' social science fiction that explores the human psyche and the moral implications of technology. If you are looking for a fast-paced thriller or a lighthearted romance, you should skip this. It is intentionally bleak and lacks emotional warmth. A significant caveat is that the film focuses heavily on themes of suicide and grief, which may be triggering or simply too draining for some audiences.

The right evening for it

It suits a quiet, introspective evening when you are in the mood for a film that demands your full attention and leaves you with difficult questions. It is best watched alone or with a partner who enjoys debating the nature of consciousness and the afterlife.

Written by our AI from the facts on this page. It has opinions; it has not watched it.

If you like this, try

  • Another Earth (2011)

    the same grounded, melancholic approach to a world-changing scientific event

  • Coma (1978)

    a similar focus on clinical ethics and mysterious medical facilities

  • Arrival (2016)

    the same intellectual rigour applied to a fantastical, life-altering premise

Suggested by our AI for what they share with this one. Linked titles have a page here; the rest are worth a search on the browse page.

What it is about

In the near future, due to a breakthrough scientific discovery by Dr. Thomas Harbor, there is now definitive proof of an afterlife. While countless people have chosen suicide to reset their existence, others try to decide what it all means. Among them is Dr. Harbor's son Will, who has arrived at his father's isolated compound with a mysterious young woman named Isla. There, they discover the strange acolytes who help Dr. Harbor with his experiments.

Trailer

Stills

  • The Discovery still
  • The Discovery still
  • The Discovery still
  • The Discovery still
  • The Discovery still
  • The Discovery still

Images from TMDB.

Questions people ask

Is The Discovery a mind-bending film?
Yes. On Watchlist Boosted it is tagged Mind-Bending, with a authentic streak. A somber and high-concept drama that treats its fantastical premise with extreme seriousness. It is slow, contemplative, and intellectually stimulating, asking difficult questions about life and death without offering much warmth.
How long is The Discovery?
The Discovery runs 102 min and was released in 2017.
Is The Discovery worth watching?
It depends: if you prefer a heavy, philosophical inquiry over an action-oriented science fiction thriller. TMDB users rate it 6.3 out of 10 from 1,466 votes.

More mind-bending titles

Same mood, saved by people here. See all mind-bending titles.