Hypnotic: A Mind-Bending Thriller or a Cinematic Snooze Fest?
Detective Danny Rourke (Ben Affleck) is haunted by the disappearance of his daughter (Hala Finley). His desperate search leads him down a rabbit hole, uncovering a shadowy government organization with the power to control minds.
Ben Affleck as Danny Rourke in “Hypnotic”
A Long-Awaited Project with a Troubled Past
The origins of “Hypnotic” trace back to the early 2000s. Robert Rodriguez, the creative force behind “From Dusk Till Dawn” and “Spy Kids,” had a script he considered a personal favorite. However, studios hesitated to finance it. Fifteen years later, the script was reworked, Ben Affleck was brought on board amidst a career resurgence, and the project sought funding through crowdfunding. While one might be tempted to label “Hypnotic” as an indie film or a student project, its $60 million budget and lack of originality would likely offend independent filmmakers. The film suffers from a nostalgic fever and a complete disorientation in the cinematic landscape.
Ben Affleck as Danny Rourke in “Hypnotic”
A Detective’s Descent into the Realm of Mind Control
Texas detective Danny Rourke is consumed by the disappearance of his daughter, Minnie. Abducted from a playground in the blink of an eye, her body was never found. When a potential lead surfaces, Rourke encounters the enigmatic antagonist, Lev Dellraine (William Fichtner). With a sinister grin and decades of villainous experience, Dellraine manipulates those around him through mind control. Danny discovers he possesses a resistance to hypnosis. With the help of a psychic named Diana (Alice Braga), he sets out to uncover the connection between these mind-bending abilities and his family, separating truth from illusion.
A Patchwork of Borrowed Ideas
The film’s weakness lies in its blatant and uninspired production. The plot borrows heavily from various science fiction projects of the last two decades, bordering on intellectual property theft. It shamelessly dissects Christopher Nolan’s “Inception,” slices up “The Truman Show,” and sprinkles in elements of “X-Men,” resulting in a cinematic lobotomy. This chaotic blend of genres, from police noir to family drama, raises questions about Rodriguez’s focus. He crafts a crumbling avatar from existing elements, overburdening the film even within its relatively short runtime.
Ben Affleck as Danny Rourke in “Hypnotic”
Uninspired Performances and a Lack of Emotional Depth
Despite his supposed immunity to hypnosis, Danny seems to be in a trance of his own. Affleck sleepwalks through the schematic labyrinths and superficial constructs, delivering a performance that is both dull and devoid of emotion. Jennifer Lopez, Affleck’s wife, portrayed a much more compelling quest to save her child in the recent film “The Mother,” while Affleck embodies a lost chatbot. Alice Braga’s character remains underdeveloped, and Fichtner and Jackie Earle Haley serve as disposable cardboard cutouts.
A Director’s Mixed Legacy
Rodriguez’s career has been a rollercoaster, marked by both questionable and iconic decisions. The man behind the cult classic “The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl” has already left his mark. However, “Hypnotic” suffers from an unwarranted sense of self-importance, negating any potential and fading from memory almost immediately after viewing. As it turns out, some indie films are better left unmade.