The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley
Alex Gibney’s probing documentary dissects the Theranos scandal as a cautionary tale of charisma, hype, and unchecked Silicon Valley ambition.
Overview
A cautionary tale about ambition and deception in the tech world, revealing the dark side of innovation.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- serious
- investigative
- paranoid
- serious documentary night
- technology discussion
What critics said
Critics broadly find the documentary comprehensive, accessible, and compelling in its examination of Theranos and the wider culture that enabled the scandal, though some find its focus diffuse or emotionally empty.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Elizabeth Holmes's public persona and technological claims attract investors, journalists, and powerful supporters despite inadequate evidence.
The film connects the Theranos scandal to Silicon Valley's culture of risk-taking, overpromising, and messianic entrepreneurship.
Interviews and narration clarify Theranos's medical technology claims, corporate structure, and fraud allegations for a general audience.
Archive footage of Holmes's presentations and media appearances is set against interviews with journalists, employees, and behavioral experts.
Films like The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley, and why
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
Investigative documentary treatment of corporate deception, whistleblowers, and institutional failure
The Big Short
Corporate scandal documentary examining fraud, ambition, and the consequences of unchecked power
Going Clear: Scientology & the Prison of Belief
Character-driven investigative documentary about charismatic authority, public deception, and collapsing credibility
Movie Details
- Director
- Alex Gibney
- Release Date
- 2019-01-24
- Runtime
- 119 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (315)
Cast
- Elizabeth Holmes
- Alex Gibney
- Dan Ariely
- Roger Parloff
- Ken Auletta
- Erika Cheung
- Cheryl Gafner
- Dave Philippides
- Douglas Matje
- Ryan Wistort
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley about?
- Alex Gibney’s probing documentary dissects the Theranos scandal as a cautionary tale of charisma, hype, and unchecked Silicon Valley ambition.
- What is The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley.
- What did critics think of The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley?
- Critics broadly find the documentary comprehensive, accessible, and compelling in its examination of Theranos and the wider culture that enabled the scandal, though some find its focus diffuse or emotionally empty.
- Which films are like The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley?
- Films with a similar feel include Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, The Big Short, and Going Clear: Scientology & the Prison of Belief.
- How long is The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley?
- The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley runs 119 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley?
- In United States, The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley streams on HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max.
