Historically, MKUltra was a top-secret, illegal human experimentation program run by the CIA from roughly 1953 to 1973.

: To develop mind-control techniques and "truth serums" (specifically using LSD ) to use against Soviet enemies during the Cold War.

: Some critics on Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb felt the film "plodded along" or was "dull," failing to capture the full horror of the actual historical program.