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Blank Slate

Blank Slate

TV movie200890 minMidcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
Director
John Harrison
Starring
Eric Stoltz, Lisa Brenner, Clancy Brown, Anne Sward

An amnesiac, sentenced to Death Row for a murder she can't remember committing, is given a second chance at freedom by the FBI: recruited as part of the secret experimental unit of the FBI's unsolved crimes division, she's implanted with the final memories of murder victims. But while she pursues the leads of other peoples' memories, she is haunted by the distant echoes of her own life... a life she can't remember.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Blank Slate?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Blank Slate streaming on The Roku Channel (free) and to rent or buy on Apple TV.

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Your rating, lists and review

Reception

Is Blank Slate worth watching?

Blank Slate's Midcredits score is the 32nd percentile of all films, from 308 ratings across 3 sources. 33% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

32nd percentile

Better received than 32% of films

31st percentile among Crime31st percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)38th
Approval (how many liked it)27th

58 /100

38th percentile of all films

37th percentile among Crime38th percentile among 2000s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 5.6 — solid but not unanimous.

Approval

How many liked it

33% liked it

27th percentile of all films

27th percentile among Crime25th percentile among 2000s
33% rated it 7–1067% rated it 1–6

25th percentile

308 ratings across platforms

15th percentile among Crime19th percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 2% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$2M

What reviewers say

Common ground

The film has an interesting premise and a capable lead, but suffers from amateurish execution and implausible plot mechanics.

Fans praised

  • Lead actress brings life-worn depth to role
  • Well-paced for its runtime, keeps story moving
  • Intriguing premise and conspiracy-layer mystery

Detractors panned

  • Unbelievable plot points and logic gaps
  • TV-level direction and shaky camera work
  • Minor actors deliver bored, declarative performances

What stands out

OriginalityDivisive65

Fresh premise of memory implantation for unsolved crimes

ActingDivisive55

Lead competent and has depth; some supporting actors feel bored

Pacing50

Keeps story moving, holds attention

CharactersDivisive45

Depth in lead but secondary characters feel thin

Plot and storyDivisive40

Interesting conceit undermined by implausible events

Cinematography30

Uninteresting angles, forced shaky cam, missed moves

Watch experience

What is Blank Slate like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Food for thought: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something to think about afterwards.

It leaves you thinking.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Nothing out of the ordinary.

What it feels like

Food for thought.

Moods
TenseContemplativeDread
Heaviest: throughout
Register
Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneIt plays its high-concept premise straight, with earnest performances and a relatively grounded treatment of the sci-fi element.
The rideThe film sustains a tense and brooding atmosphere from the death-row opening through the investigative missions, with frequent shifts between action and introspective memory sequences.
StructureThe story is told in a linear sequence, following Anne's recruitment, her assignments, and the gradual return of her own memories.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Thinking.

The answer rests on this: Thought-provokingUnsettling
Why it leaves you this wayThe premise of living someone else's final moments and the unresolved mystery of Anne's own past stays with you, leaving a lingering unease.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Monster
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21% (this title): Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% (this title) · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Oppressive state: A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).

21% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeAn amnesiac on death row is recruited by the FBI's secret experimental unit to solve crimes by reliving victims' final memories, facing both hidden killers and the oppressive system that sentenced her.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfIdentitySelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22% (this title): Identity 14% (this title) · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% (this title) · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% (this title) · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Self

Identity · 14% of filmsJustice · 13% of filmsMemory · 3% of films
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Societal stakes: Consequences reach a whole social order.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film centers on a woman whose sense of self is fractured by amnesia, and who must piece together her identity while navigating a corrupt system that has condemned her.
StanceThe film interrogates the theme of identity by questioning how much of who we are is defined by memory, while also casting a skeptical eye on the justice system that condemned an innocent woman.

The world

ContemporaryInstitutionalUrbanStylized realism
Orchestral modernSupportive music · original score · Joseph LoDuca
SettingA secret FBI unit operating within the unsolved crimes division, with scenes in institutional settings like a prison and FBI facilities.
MusicJoseph LoDuca, known for his work on horror and action TV, provides a score that supports the tense, investigative mood without overwhelming the performances.

Content guide

Is Blank Slate okay for kids?

As of March 15, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at mild (33/100), sexual content at minimal (0/100), language at minimal (0/100), drug and alcohol content at minimal (0/100) and frightening material at minimal (0/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Overall
Mild · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Mild
too few votes to rank (1 vote)
Sex & Nudity
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (1 vote)
Profanity
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (1 vote)
Alcohol & Drugs
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (1 vote)
Frightening / Intense
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (1 vote)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (5 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Blank Slate have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Blank Slate?

Cast

Eric Stoltz
as Sean Sullivan
Lisa Brenner
as Anne Huston
Clancy Brown
as Agent Miles Mcavoy
Anne Sward
as Dr. Meredith Crick
Paul Kiernan
as Tim Bradey
Kari Hawker-Diaz
as Cindy Kwai
Michael Flynn
as Ross
Hank Stone
as Killer
David Ellison
as Blake Feltzer
Christy Summerhays
as Wendy Wilmont

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Blank Slate?

Movies like Blank Slate include Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning (2012), The Thinning (2016) and City Hall (1996). Of the 12 closest matches, several are stories of oppressive states, and most are stories about mentors and protégés.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

11 of these 12 share its feel: brooding. Those cards say what else they share.

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