The Machine (1994): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1994, The Machine is a thriller, horror and science fiction film directed by François Dupeyron, running about 96 minutes.

What it’s about. This deftly made French psychological thriller terrifies with its exploration of an experiment gone horribly wrong. Dr. Marc Lacroix, a psychiatrist specializing in brain functions, is obsessed with the link between mind and spirit. To find his link he studies the criminally insane. He builds a secret machine, known only to his mistress Marianne, in which he hopes to exchange minds between humans. He simultaneously wants to help the mentally ill recover, and he wants to experience their madness. He chooses the psychotic killer, Zyto, a man who stabbed at least three women, for his experiment. The initial experiment is successful and the two exchange minds. But trouble ensues when Zyto refuses to reverse the switch. There is little Marc can do when Zyto takes over Marc's life, and more ominously his wife and child whom are unknowingly in mortal danger. Marc, encased in Zyto's body, is returned to the asylum. Will Marc's wife recognize the danger? Will Zyto kill again?

Who’s in it. The Machine stars Gérard Depardieu as Dr. Marc Lacroix, Nathalie Baye as Marie Lacroix, Didier Bourdon as Michel Zyto and Natalia Wörner as Marianne, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 5.3/10, The Machine has proved divisive with audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Machine page.

If you liked it. Fans of The Machine tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.