Rent Hypnotic (2023)

Very Clever - Hypnotic review by sb

FILM & REVIEW Went into this with low expectations as it got really slated and died at the box office but was pleasantly suprised how much I enjoyed it. Affleck plays Rourke a cop whose daughter was kidnapped a few years back but even though the kidnapper is caught has no recall of what happened. He comes across a bank robbery in progress but it’s an odd one in that one man (Fitcher) has the power of auto suggestion so gets various bank employees to do it on his behalf. He is only after a single safe deposit box every time and this one is revealed to contain a photo of Rourke’s daughter and the words Find Delrayne. His investigation leads him to Diana (Braga) who is a psychic who used to work for a shadowy Govt organisation called The Division led by Delrayne who is seeking a secret weapon called Domino. Not going to give away any more but it’s very clever the way each reality is just a construct within a construct and each plot point is a clue to revealing the true nature of what is going on, Sure it can be seen as a shopping list of influences with Total Recall, The Matrix and loads of nods to Chris Nolan but Rodreguiz keeps the whole rattling along and in an age where all movies seem to exceed the 140 minute plus running time this is a success at a smidge under 90 minutes. Well worth a look - 4/5

OK - Hypnotic review by TB

Quite enjoyable.. it has it's moments.. and an interesting story line.. but really not very good overall...

Robert Rodriguez directing - this is quite a drop from the genius that was Sin City...

Great Idea, Poorly Executed - Hypnotic review by Dr Waerdnotte

The basic concept of the movie, the playing around with what is reality and where does it begin and end, offers the viewer the possibility of a story that can work on many levels and in many ways, as movies like Inception, Existenz, Coherance, even Time Crimes have managed to present views of twisted realities albeit through different concepts. What negates Hypnotic for me are two things. Firstly, Ben Affleck, who once again looks like an actor who is bored with everything, particularly having to act in this movie. Secondly, Rodriguez, and his obsession with guns and shooting people.

This is a concept that can work on a far more intellectual level but Rodriguez believes that if a gun can be cocked and loaded, then emptied into someone this is all that is needed to drive the narrative forward. All rather pointless and stupid.