The Machinist (2004)

The Machinist is a slow-burning psychological drama-thriller about Trevor Reznik, an industrial machinist whose extreme insomnia has left him emaciated, paranoid and increasingly detached from reality. As Trevor’s life unravels—obsessive weight-tracking on Post‑it notes, a fragile relationship with a prostitute named Stevie, and a growing infatuation with a waitress named Maria—he becomes convinced that a mysterious, deformed co‑worker called Ivan and a conspiracy among his colleagues are out to ruin him. Strange clues, workplace incidents and inexplicable items in his apartment push him deeper into suspicion and hallucinatory episodes until he must confront the true cause of his sleeplessness. Watching The Machinist is an unsettling, claustrophobic experience: tense, moody visuals, sparse sound design and a relentlessly bleak atmosphere build a sense of disorientation that mirrors Trevor’s fractured mind. It’s a character-driven, emotionally intense film that explores guilt, isolation and the unreliability of perception; viewers should expect a haunting central performance, disturbing imagery, and a reveal that reframes the paranoia they’ve been witnessing rather than offering easy answers.

Actors: Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón

Director: Brad Anderson

Runtime: 101 min

Genres: Drama, Thriller

7.1 /10 61 /100 7.6 /10 6.9 /10