MesmeroWatch list, 0 saved

Movie
Poster for The Spanish Prisoner

The Spanish Prisoner

1997 · 110 min

A cool, cerebral puzzle that keeps you leaning in, second-guessing every friendly face and every polite turn of phrase.

Directed by
David Mamet
Genres
Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Starring
Steve Martin, Campbell Scott, Ben Gazzara
Tagline
It's the oldest con in the book.
Overview
An inventor of a secret process suddenly finds himself alone as both his friends and the corporation he works for turn against him.

Your rating is saved. See your suggestions, or find titles like this one below.

Rate it, and Mesmero finds titles that feel like it. You do not need an account.

Search YouTube for a trailer

Add to a list: The Spanish Prisoner

You have no lists yet. Name one, and this title goes into it.

All your lists

In the UKNo streaming, rental or purchase options known.
Directed by
David Mamet
Genres
Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Starring
Steve Martin, Campbell Scott, Ben Gazzara
In your watch list

How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Tone
    Pacing
    measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
    Attention
    demanding, 4 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
    Themes
    • deception
    • betrayal
    • greed
    • corruption
    • isolation
    Places
    • big city
    • workplace
    • road trip
    Era
    contemporary
    Audience
    adult
    Form
    • twist ending
    • nonlinear
    Content intensity
    • Gore none
    • Language mild
    • Violence mild
    • Sex none
    All scales, 0 to 10
    Scales, 0 to 10
    ScaleValue0 to 10
    Action3
    Horror1
    Humour3
    Realism7
    Romance2
    Tension7
    Darkness6
    Complexity8
    Emotional weight5

    More like this

    Titles like The Spanish Prisoner

    Movie

    House of Games

    1987

    A cool, cerebral plunge into con-artist psychology, where every line feels like a move in a game and the tension coils tighter as the heroine's fascination turns dangerous.

    Same director: David Mamet · About deception and betrayal · twist ending

    Also
    Same director: David Mamet
    Via
    • deception
    • betrayal
    • twist ending
    Pacing
    measured
    Attention
    engaged
    Runtime
    102 min
    Details
    House of GamesHidden from your suggestions.
    Movie

    Heist

    2001

    A crisp, talky crime caper that keeps you leaning in to follow its layers of deceit and dry wit.

    Same writer: David Mamet · About deception and betrayal · twist ending

    Also
    Same writer: David Mamet
    Via
    • deception
    • betrayal
    • twist ending
    Pacing
    brisk
    Attention
    engaged
    Runtime
    107 min
    Details
    HeistHidden from your suggestions.
    Movie

    Dial M for Murder

    1954

    A taut, stage-bound cat-and-mouse game where elegant conversation conceals cold calculation, keeping you leaning in to catch every clue.

    About deception and betrayal · twist ending

    Via
    • deception
    • betrayal
    • twist ending
    Pacing
    measured
    Attention
    engaged
    Runtime
    105 min
    Details
    Dial M for MurderHidden from your suggestions.
    Movie

    Nine Queens

    2000

    A twisty, talky con-game thriller that keeps you guessing and second-guessing every smile.

    About deception and betrayal · twist ending

    Via
    • deception
    • betrayal
    • twist ending
    Pacing
    brisk
    Attention
    engaged
    Runtime
    114 min
    Details
    Nine QueensHidden from your suggestions.
    Movie

    The Usual Suspects

    1995

    A twisty, talky crime thriller that keeps you guessing, with a dark, brooding atmosphere and a killer final reveal.

    About deception and betrayal · twist ending

    Via
    • deception
    • betrayal
    • twist ending
    Pacing
    measured
    Attention
    demanding
    Runtime
    106 min
    Details
    The Usual SuspectsHidden from your suggestions.
    Movie

    The Maltese Falcon

    1941

    A shadowy, quick-witted noir that keeps you leaning in as lies pile on lies and desire collides with duty.

    About deception and betrayal · twist ending

    Via
    • deception
    • betrayal
    • twist ending
    Pacing
    measured
    Attention
    engaged
    Runtime
    100 min
    Details
    The Maltese FalconHidden from your suggestions.
    Movie

    The Invisible Guest

    2017

    A tense, twisty puzzle that keeps you guessing, with shifting stories and a slow reveal of dark truths.

    About deception and betrayal · twist ending

    Via
    • deception
    • betrayal
    • twist ending
    Pacing
    measured
    Attention
    demanding
    Runtime
    107 min
    Details
    The Invisible GuestHidden from your suggestions.
    Movie

    Arbitrage

    2012

    A sleek, slow-burning thriller that keeps you tense as a wealthy man's lies pile up, offering a cold, cynical look at power and self-preservation.

    About deception and corruption

    Via
    • deception
    • corruption
    Pacing
    measured
    Attention
    engaged
    Runtime
    107 min
    Details
    ArbitrageHidden from your suggestions.
    Movie

    Jackie Brown

    1997

    A cool, unhurried crime story that savours its characters and conversations, building quiet tension and a wistful romantic streak.

    About deception and betrayal · nonlinear

    Via
    • deception
    • betrayal
    • nonlinear
    Pacing
    measured
    Attention
    engaged
    Runtime
    154 min
    Details
    Jackie BrownHidden from your suggestions.
    Movie

    Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

    2007

    A grim, intricately structured descent into family betrayal and moral rot, unfolding with mounting dread and a devastating, inevitable climax.

    Same composer: Carter Burwell · About betrayal and greed · nonlinear

    Also
    Same composer: Carter Burwell
    Via
    • betrayal
    • greed
    • nonlinear
    Pacing
    measured
    Attention
    demanding
    Runtime
    117 min
    Details
    Before the Devil Knows You're DeadHidden from your suggestions.
    Movie

    Glengarry Glen Ross

    1992

    A tense, verbally explosive pressure cooker that makes you feel the desperation and moral rot of its characters.

    Same writer: David Mamet · About betrayal and greed

    Also
    Same writer: David Mamet
    Via
    • betrayal
    • greed
    Pacing
    brisk
    Attention
    engaged
    Runtime
    100 min
    Details
    Glengarry Glen RossHidden from your suggestions.
    Movie

    Side Effects

    2013

    A sleek, chilly thriller that keeps you guessing, with a clinical mood and mounting unease.

    About deception and betrayal · twist ending

    Via
    • deception
    • betrayal
    • twist ending
    Pacing
    measured
    Attention
    engaged
    Runtime
    106 min
    Details
    Side EffectsHidden from your suggestions.

    Where to watch in the UK

    No UK streaming, rental or purchase options are known.

    Streaming data from JustWatch.TMDB

    Details

    Genres
    drama, mystery, thriller
    Directed by
    David Mamet
    Written by
    David Mamet
    Starring
    Steve Martin, Campbell Scott, Ben Gazzara, Rebecca Pidgeon, Ricky Jay, Felicity Huffman, David Pittu, J.J. Johnston
    Music
    Carter Burwell
    Cinematography
    Gabriel Beristain
    Runtime
    110 min
    Country
    United States of America
    Languages
    English

    TMDBIMDbLetterboxdWikipediaWikidata

    Something wrong on this page? Tell us.