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The Alchemist Cookbook

2016·Movie
1h 22min
IMDb5.2Metacritic736.5Rotten Tomatoes84%33%

Where to watch

PrimePhiloAMC+KanopyHoopla

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

The Alchemist Cookbook fingerprint

High energy, striking style, emotionally cool.

Energy

Tense and scary

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension8
  • Scare7
  • Violence6

Heart

Emotionally reserved

  • Melancholy6
  • Pathos5
  • Catharsis3

Humor

Serious throughout

  • Wit & Wordplay2
  • Dark Humor1
  • Situational Comedy0

World

The mind, everyday modern life, and mystery

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Ambiguity8
  • Novelty6

Craft

Standout performances

  • Acting8
  • Direction7
  • Character Depth7

Style

Standout sound design

  • Sound Centrality8
  • Cinematography7
  • Visual Stylization7

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightSolo WatchThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You want something to laugh atYou need an uplifting moodYou want fast pacingGraphic violence bothers you

Find more like it

Suspense moviesAtmospheric movies

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

Self-made chemist Sean, a recluse living in an old trailer in the woods, suffers from pill-popping delusions of fortune. When his manic attempts at cracking the ancient secret of alchemy go awry he unleashes something far more sinister and dangerous.
Psychological HorrorExistential DreadUncanny Valley AtmosphereSlow-Burn TensionSurreal RealismIsolation and DescentAmbiguous EndingGrotesque ImageryMumblecore AestheticCult Horror Classic

Crew

Directed by:
Joel Potrykus, Bryan Reisberg
Written by:
Joel Potrykus
Produced by:
Joel Potrykus, Bryan Reisberg, Andrew Corkin
Composed by:
Sasa Slogar, Kevin Clancy

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

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Questions about The Alchemist Cookbook

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Alchemist Cookbook legally?

PrimePhiloAMC+KanopyHooplaShudderFandorPlex

The Alchemist Cookbook is included with a subscription to Amazon Prime Video, Philo, AMC+, and Amazon Prime Video with Ads in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, and Plex. You can also rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is The Alchemist Cookbook worth watching?

64
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 64/100 (IMDb 5.2, Rotten Tomatoes 84%, and Metacritic 73). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Alchemist Cookbook rated?

ViolenceDisturbing imageryStrong languageDrug use

Content advisories: violence, disturbing imagery, strong language, and drug use.

How long is The Alchemist Cookbook?

1 h 22 min

The Alchemist Cookbook runs 1 h 22 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on The Alchemist Cookbook?

Critics79
Audiences50

Not quite. Critics rate The Alchemist Cookbook higher (79) than audiences (50). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

What language is The Alchemist Cookbook in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch The Alchemist Cookbook?

8AUCAGBIEMXNZSEUS

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Alchemist Cookbook in 8 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does The Alchemist Cookbook use?

Deal with the DevilShattered SanityKindhearted Cat LoverSanity SlippageDemonic PossessionBungled SuicideAlchemy Is MagicBlack MagicLoners Are Freaks

TV Tropes lists 9 storytelling tropes for The Alchemist Cookbook, including Deal with the Devil, Shattered Sanity, Kindhearted Cat Lover.