The concept for Hypnotic was born during the filming of Spy Kids 2, as director Robert Rodriguez revealed at the premiere screening. His love for Austin and SXSW brought him back after 30 years since El Mariachi. This was a significant moment for him, and he admitted that the film is still a work in progress. However, after watching it, it’s clear that Hypnotic needs some work to progress because it feels scattered and unfocused.
The story revolves around Daniel Rourke (played by Ben Affleck), a cop who is haunted by the disappearance of his daughter. During a therapy session, he is brought back to reality and realizes that there is a connection between a mysterious man named Liv Del Rayne (played by William Fichtner) and his daughter’s disappearance. To unravel the mystery, Rourke seeks the help of Diana (played by Alice Braga), a psychic and hypnotic who can alter human reality with her words. Together, they embark on a journey to uncover the truth and find Rourke’s missing child.
Think of Christopher Nolan’s Inception mixed with a touch of Total Recall, sprinkled with Satoshi Kon’s Paprika and some noir elements reminiscent of North by Northwest. That’s the essence of Hypnotic. Rodriguez always approaches the genre with creativity and inventiveness, crafting expansive worlds for his characters to explore. His direction is commanding, and he knows how to visually bring science fiction and magical realism to life.
However, the film suffers from a lack of cohesion in its storytelling. It tries to cram in so many details that it becomes confusing and hard to follow. While twists and turns are expected in suspense films, there is such a thing as too many, and Hypnotic overwhelms the audience with constant new developments. By the end, I realized that I had spent so much time trying to process everything that I forgot to enjoy myself.
Unfortunately, Ben Affleck’s performance as the lead doesn’t help the film. He seems to sleepwalk through his role, lacking emotion and inflection in his voice. It’s a wooden and flat portrayal that fails to anchor the eccentricity of the story. Alice Braga, on the other hand, brings tenacity to her character and is the standout performer. Perhaps if she were the lead, my opinion would be different.
It’s important to note that the version of Hypnotic shown on Sunday night is not the finished product. The movie is never boring and has a solid concept to build upon, but it requires significant tweaking to find a balance. However, it’s hard to imagine what more can be added without extending its already lengthy 2½-hour runtime.
