Hypnotic

Hypnotic, directed by Robert Rodriguez and starring Ben Affleck, fails to deliver the captivating, coherent experience we've come to expect from a Christopher Nolan thriller. The film presents some interesting ideas but doesn't always manage to develop them effectively, resulting in a sloppy, disjointed narrative. The choice of Ben Affleck for the lead role proves to be a surprising one, as he lacks the charisma and energy necessary for an action hero role outside that of the monolithic Bruce Wayne / Batman. His performance here lacks inspiration and fails to create any chemistry with Alice Braga, the film's female lead.

The story revolves around Austin detective Danny Rourke (Ben Affleck), who returns to work after the disappearance of his daughter. While investigating a bank robbery, he discovers the existence of "hypnotics", individuals capable of manipulating the mind. Teaming up with psychic Diana Cruz (Alice Braga), Danny learns that he is partially immune to hypnotics and sets out to uncover the truth about his daughter's disappearance, which leads him to the dangerous hypnotic Lev Dell Rayne (William Fichtner).

One of Hypnotic's main problems is its contrived script, which attempts to unsettle the viewer, but ultimately falls flat as it seems a pale copy of some Christopher Nolan films. The film relies on regular twists and turns, but these become predictable and lose their impact over time. The film's running time isn't long enough to explore its universe and concepts in depth, and the inclusion of low-energy action scenes detracts from its overall impact. With a better script and more action scenes, Hypnotic could have been an excellent surprise.

Despite its short running time, Hypnotic thus lacks depth and fails to establish high stakes or a clear sense of the threat posed by the hypnotics. It feels like a missed opportunity to delve deeper into a larger, more intriguing story, but commercial considerations get in the way. The film's mediocre box-office results and minimal marketing indicate that a sequel is unlikely to see the light of day, leaving it as a forgettable addition to a streaming service's catalog (Netflix will soon stream it online in the US). However, we advise you to stay until the middle of the end credits, as you'll be able to discover an important scene.

Hypnotic's attempt to emulate Christopher Nolan's hallucinatory thrillers fails in terms of narrative coherence and engaging execution. The film suffers from a contrived script, lacklustre acting and an inability to deliver the necessary impact. Despite some intriguing ideas, Hypnotic fails to make a lasting impression and ultimately disappoints.

Hypnotic
Directed by Robert Rodriguez
Screenplay by Robert Rodriguez, Max Borenstein
Story by Robert Rodriguez
Produced by Mark Gill, Guy Botham, Lisa Ellzey, Jeff Robinov, John Graham, Racer Max, Robert Rodriguez
Starring Ben Affleck, Alice Braga, J. D. Pardo, Hala Finley, Dayo Okeniyi, Jeff Fahey, Jackie Earle Haley, William Fichtner
Cinematography : Pablo Berron, Robert Rodriguez
Edited by Robert Rodriguez
Music by Rebel Rodriguez
Production companies: Solstice Studios, Ingenious Media, Studio 8, Double R Productions
Distributed by Ketchup Entertainment, Relativity Media (United States), SND (France)
Release dates : March 12, 2023 (SXSW), May 12, 2023 (United States), August 23 , 2023 (France)
Running time : 94 minutes

Viewed on June 23, 2023 (VOD)

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