The Institute opens with a pregnant woman running through a festively lit cave while being pursued and attacked by CG hands. Faster than you can say, “I bet this is a dream sequence,” she wakes up, startling her husband awake as well. Very quickly the film establishes that Maria (Victorya Brandart) and Danny (Ignacyo Matynia) are not happy with life.

Due to complications during the birth of their daughter, the infant died and Maria was rendered incapable of having children. On the verge of giving up, Danny sees an online ad for The Lands Institute of Reproductive Science. Not knowing that one should not pay attention to online ads, he brings it to Maria and the two agree to give it a shot since Dr. Lands (Mark Lobene) is willing to treat them for free. Too good to be true, the offer is also irresistible to the couple and they arrive at the eponymous Institute.

If you have ever seen a horror film you know what’s going to happen and what’s going on. Dr. Lands seems like he’s practicing to be a sinister Bond villain, yet everyone at the Institute (staff and patients alike) swears he’s a messianic genius. Maria and Danny begin spending time with other couples there to conceive and they’re all just the right level of normal/creepy/passive aggressive to make you wonder why Maria and Danny stay after the first night’s community dinner.

The group goes through the Lands process of group yoga in the woods, drinking all kinds of strange concoctions (men have to get that sperm count up!), and standing naked on what seems to be a mock up of Star Trek’s transporter. At this point the audience is surely wondering about a possible pregnancy–will the baby be a mutant, a monster, an alien, or not their baby at all? Maybe it’ll be Dr. Land’s own hideous progeny. Eventually the cult-like community truly becomes dangerous when the fearful and deadly (also easily predictable) secret of the Institute is finally revealed.

The Institute isn’t a bad film, but it is a predictable one that does nothing new. Nothing really stands out about it – not the performances, not the cinematography, nor the direction. The special effects makeup is fine, but not overly impressive–competent, but not exciting. It was like watching a late 90s made-for-television movie. It’s an independent film made by a small group of committed artists, and I celebrate that. At least their work is earnest, if average. If you like that kind of flavor, you will enjoy The Institute. If not, you can move on with your life.

5 out of 10