"The Institute": A Stephen King Adaptation Falling Flat

Alright Stephen King enthusiasts, are you already missing the thrills of "Stranger Things" or anticipating the chill of "The Shining"? Well, MGM+'s "The Institute" might not be your next binge-watch choice, as it lands like a considerably lackluster soup rather than a delicacy. With its monotonous pacing and disappointingly dull execution, it feels like an uninspiring stroll through familiar Stephen King territory.

King himself might be relishing in yet another wave of popularity with projects like "The Long Walk," "The Running Man," and the launch of his latest book, "Never Flinch". However, the reworking of his 2019 novel "The Institute" fumbles, never fully realizing his potent themes and rich narrative.

"The Institute" called for a creative team ready to delve deep and expand on King’s complex ideas, namely how those with power sacrifice future generations for their own gain. Unfortunately, director Jack Bender, previously known for his work on supernatural thrillers like “Lost" and "From”, seems lost in tracking down that elusive energy. Instead, this latest venture may serve you with yawns and unease, rather than gasps and thrill.

Newcomer Joe Freeman shines above the rest as Luke Ellis, a super-smart teenager toting a Mensa-rattling IQ and powers that science can’t lick. Our hero is snatched in the night and wakes in a facility filled with supernaturally gifted children, all under the stark control of the eerie Ms. Sigsby (Mary-Louise Parker), and her assistants, Hendricks (Robert Joy), and Stackhouse (Julian Richings).

"The Institute" is a mishmash, with kids pushed to unlock their "Shining-like" powers under distressing circumstances, and not always thoughtfully so. Raw depictions of violence on young characters and jarring allusions to Holocaust imagery may leave you more uncomfortable than engrossed.

As the plot develops, an outsider in the nearby town starts to question the ominous smoke signals from the research facility. Enter Ben Barnes's character Tim Jamieson, a "night knocker" who takes his sweet time connecting the disturbing dots. Though his character adds little drive to the narrative, Barnes manages to deliver a solid performance.

You would not be wrong to label "The Institute" as a touch underwhelming, lacking in creative spark and appearing more like a checklist item than a labor of love. Mary-Louise Parker, while spectacular in her past work, seems almost discouraged by the trite script, while Ben Barnes appears to paddle in one place for the most part of the series. Freeman, our bright-eyed protagonist, along with Richings, seems like the only one who got the memo about bring their 'A' game.

The production feels hurried and exhibits no real creativity or tension. Even dividing the narrative into episodes falls flat, with each part appearing more like pieces of an unnecessarily lengthy movie. One can't help but wonder about the potential it could've reached had the team put in some extra love and effort.

"The Institute" makes its rather uninspiring debut on MGM+ this Sunday. Let’s hope King's upcoming adaptations fare better.