Hypnotic

"Control is an illusion."

2023 1h 33m EN

😐

6.2

MID

★6.2TMDB · 1,579

MysteryScience FictionThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A detective becomes entangled in a mystery involving his missing daughter and a secret government program while investigating a string of reality-bending crimes.

“Control is an illusion.”

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Cast

Ben Affleck
Danny Rourke
Alice Braga
Diana Cruz
William Fichtner
Dellrayne
J. D. Pardo
Nicks
Hala Finley
Minnie (10 yo)
Ionie Olivia Nieves
Minnie (7 yo)
Dayo Okeniyi
River
Kelly Frye
Viv

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Robert Rodriguez
Writers: Robert Rodriguez, Robert Rodriguez, Max Borenstein
Languages: Spanish, English
Countries: United Kingdom, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Mid-budget at $70M — the now-extinct middle tier of Hollywood.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 23% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 3 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Spanish, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Robert Rodriguez, shot by Robert Rodriguez. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Rebel Rodriguez. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Robert Rodriguez shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Robert Rodriguez directs. Robert Rodriguez behind the camera. Rebel Rodriguez scores. Robert Rodriguez cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United Kingdom, United States of America. Dialogue in Spanish, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Mid-budget at $70M — the now-extinct middle tier of Hollywood.
2Earned back only 23% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
3Released 3 years ago.
4Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Spanish, English.
5International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America.
6Directed by Robert Rodriguez, shot by Robert Rodriguez. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
7Original score by Rebel Rodriguez. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
8Editor Robert Rodriguez shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
9Ben Affleck and Alice Braga and William Fichtner carry the top of the cast.
10Marketing tagline: "Control is an illusion.".
11IMDB entry: tt8080204 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
12Classified under 14 themes, including "mind control", "parent child relationship", "detective", "moral ambiguity".

The technical file

Cinematography: Robert Rodriguez
Original score: Rebel Rodriguez
Editing: Robert Rodriguez
Production design: Caylah Eddleblute
Costume design: Nina Proctor
Makeup / hair: Elinia Eads
VFX supervisor: Joel Sevilla
Sound: Angelo Palazzo
Stunt coordinator: Rockey Dickey Jr.
Runtime: 93 min · 1h 33m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $70,000,000
Box office: $16,014,123
Return: 23% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Hypnotic (2023)

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Robert Rodriguez

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Leno2023-05-02
★ 6/10
This movie is an attempt to create the new "Inception", and whether if you liked that movie or not is good indicative of if you will like this one. The plot follows a detective who had his child kidnapped four years ago. He starts to work in a multi-bank roberry case and soon it gets clear the thief has hypnotic powers. Additionally, his missing daughter seems to have some relation to the case. Although the detective has some natural resistance to mind manipulation, the reality is wrapped between so many layers of illusions that it is hard to know what and who is real. The writers do a good job in building the plot in a way it's very hard to predict the plot twists. The acting is good. I just felt the movie went too deep on the plot twists to a point that most that is shown throughout the movie has no importance. Good movie although, but I would be surprised if it becomes a movie that will forever be remembered.
Manuel São Bento2023-05-17
★ 5/10
MORE SPOILER-FREE MINI REVIEWS @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/mini-reviews-2023-edition "Hypnotic carries the narrative potential to become a mind-bending film packed with jaw-dropping twists and incredibly captivating storytelling. Unfortunately, despite some interesting moments and an excellent cast, Robert Rodriguez and Max Borenstein deliver a messily edited, extremely confusing mishmash of ideas not as clever as the filmmakers try to make them out to be. I don't remember the last movie that had such a brutal amount of lazy exposition to explain every plot point or character development moment. A complete disappointment." Rating: C
MovieGuys2023-05-30
★ 5/10
Hypnotic failed to "mesmerise" this viewer. A disjointed story, weak characterisations and mediocre action, are my not so enduring impressions, of this film. In short, this is forgettable cinematic fare, that's predominantly driven by exposition and little else. Using a big name actor, like Ben Affleck, for me at least, wont fix this films shortcomings. Not sure too, why characters in the latter part of the film are dressed like car rental agents (oh well...)? In summary, superficially watchable but instantly forgettable, action fare.