Regression: A Promising Thriller Derailed by a Weak Finish
“Regression” starts strong as a dark crime thriller exploring a rape investigation, but it unfortunately stumbles to an unsatisfying conclusion.
The film follows Bruce Kenner (Ethan Hawke), a police detective in a small northern town, as he investigates a disturbing case of alleged rape and abuse. Angela Gray (Emma Watson), a young woman, claims her father, Mr. Gray (David Dencik), subjected her to horrific sexual abuse. Mr. Gray, while denying any memory of the events, trusts his daughter’s account and suggests that if she says it happened, it must have. To unravel the truth, Kenner enlists the help of psychiatrist Dr. Raines (David Thewlis), who uses hypnosis on Mr. Gray. Under hypnosis, Mr. Gray recalls not only the rapes but also their involvement in a satanic ritual. As news reports surface about secret cults, Kenner believes he’s uncovered a widespread occult conspiracy.
Fun Fact: David Dencik, who plays Mr. Gray, appeared in both the Scandinavian and Hollywood adaptations of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.”
Amenábar’s Return and Initial Promise
Spanish director Alejandro Amenábar initially made a name for himself with thrillers like “Tesis” and “Open Your Eyes.” He then achieved international success with the horror film “The Others” and garnered critical acclaim for the psychological drama “The Sea Inside.” However, his historical film “Agora,” which criticized religious fanaticism, was a major setback. Despite winning seven Goya Awards (Spain’s national film awards), it flopped at the box office, earning only half of its $70 million budget. After six years, Amenábar aimed to revive his career with a mid-budget thriller, returning to the genre that launched his success.
The Downfall: Satanic Panic and Missed Opportunities
Unfortunately, Amenábar’s return to familiar territory falls short. “Regression” begins promisingly, with a gradual descent into a dark world of family violence, alcoholism, and religious hysteria. The actors, set design, cinematography, and overall atmosphere initially support the film’s premise, suggesting that Amenábar might overcome the failure of “Agora.”
Note: The events that inspired the film’s plot also served as the basis for Atom Egoyan’s crime drama “Devil’s Knot.”
However, the introduction of satanic elements causes the film to unravel. Like “The Others” and “The Sixth Sense,” “Regression” relies on a twist ending that recontextualizes previous events. But for such a twist to work, the audience must believe in the events leading up to it. “Regression” fails to convince viewers that small-town alcoholics with limited intelligence could be part of a sinister cult that has infiltrated America without ever being officially exposed. As “The X-Files” and “Rosemary’s Baby” demonstrate, such cults require different participants from a different social class.
The more aggressively the film tries to convince the audience of the conspiracy’s existence and the detective’s genuine belief in it, the more ridiculous the narrative becomes. Furthermore, by focusing on Kenner’s nightmares, the film neglects the core element of the real-life events that inspired it. Dr. Raines and his hypnosis sessions receive so little attention that they could be removed entirely. Instead, the film should have dedicated more time to the doctor’s office, exploring the suppressed memories of the suspects. This approach would have been more compelling and terrifying, as memories carry more weight than mere nightmares.
A Premature Revelation and a Silver Lining
Realizing that he can’t mislead even the most gullible viewers for long, Amenábar reveals the main plot twist well before the end creditsvanov