Hypnotic | Third Space
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Hypnotic

A lesson in poor execution of a brilliant idea
Thu 11 May 2023

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2 out of 5 stars

One commendable attribute of writer/director Robert Rodriguez is his willingness to take risks while pushing toward the edges of storytelling. His career is a potpourri bowl of hits (Spykids franchise, Sin City) and misses (Alita: Battle Angel, Planet Terror) that range in quality, and periodically they are embraced by audiences. Yet, this film mix contains notable bombs that keep this filmmaker out of the upper tier of top Hollywood players. Hypnotic is his latest project and is purported to be one of his favourite stories despite taking over a decade to be developed and released.

Ben Affleck plays Austin detective Danny Rourke who is working through the trauma of having his seven-year-old daughter, Minnie (Hala Finley) kidnapped. As he works through therapy and the breakdown of his family, the police officer continues to work. One day Rourke and his partner are called to stake out a potential bank heist until Danny suspects something is wrong. Outside the bank, a mysterious man gives instructions to different bystanders. Based on his suggestions, they assist in the bank vault robbery. This unsuspecting occurrence leads the detective on a chase that introduces him to Dellrayne (William Fichtner) and the world of the hypnotics, who may be able to lead him to find his daughter.

The production is a prime example of a brilliant concept that suffers from poor execution. Rodriguez takes the audience on twists and turns reminiscent of Christopher Nolan. Still, he either needed more money or patience to make each work to his advantage. Whispers of Inception and Memento give this screenplay a hopeful element that needs to be fulfilled by less-than-satisfactory solutions to the story's trajectory. Especially as most dramatic stand-offs require extended moments of staring, there needed to be more to the direction than merely staring harder.

Ben Affleck and William Fichtner do their best to find their footing within the storyline. Yet, both seem to be bewildered at the twists and turns they are expected to make as they attempt to make sense of the enigmatic settings they find themselves in from scene to scene. Then Alice Braga and J. D. Pardo are left to fend for themselves as their characters remain two-dimensional and underwhelming until the final act. Even though all do their best with what they are given in the screenplay by Rodriguez and Max Borenstein, the thin line of logic remains to discombobulate the mind until the final moments.

Hypnotic had all of the potential to be a low-budget Nolan-inspired production. Yet, nothing was mesmerising about this film beyond how so much talent could lead to such mediocrity.

REEL DIALOGUE: Does the Bible have anything to say about kidnapping?

You shall love your neighbour as yourself. - Matthew 22:39

Kidnapping is considered one of the most egregious sins against society. It has been an unfortunate part of the human experience throughout history. The realities of Hypnotic show the impact of this criminal act on a family and how it causes anguish to all involved.

In the Old Testament, it was a crime that would have been punishable by death, ranked in association with murder. In the words of Jesus, this topic is addressed broadly by his second commandment, love your neighbour as yourself. A portion of scripture that should cause all to evaluate their motives and consider how their decisions affect others.

Passages that address kidnapping: Exodus 21:16, Deuteronomy 24:7, 1 Timothy 1:9-10

If you would like to discuss the issues associated with the Bible. Reach out to us at Third Space. We would love to chat about this and more.

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