Hypnotic: Rodriguez’s wild ride overshadows its messy plot

The opening scene of Hypnotic (2023) is a doozy: Ben Affleck‘s Detective Danny Rourke, mid-therapy session, recounts his daughter’s abduction with such wild-eyed intensity that you half-expect him to start speaking in tongues. This is Robert Rodriguez at his most unapologetically B-movie, a film that wears its absurdity like a badge of honor.

What it is: A mystery-thriller wrapped in a sci-fi bow, Hypnotic follows Rourke as he investigates a string of reality-bending crimes while grappling with the unsolved disappearance of his daughter. The plot spirals into a government conspiracy involving hypnosis, parallel realities, and plenty of twists that feel more like parlor tricks than genuine surprises.

What works: Rodriguez’s signature visual flair is on full display here, with kinetic camerawork and neon-soaked aesthetics that lend the film an infectious energy. Affleck leans into the material’s campiness with gusto, delivering a performance that oscillates between deadpan seriousness and unhinged chaos. The supporting cast, particularly Alice Braga as his no-nonsense partner Diana Cruz, holds their own amidst the madness. The film’s pacing is relentless, barreling from one set piece to the next with barely a breath in between.

Where it falters: Unfortunately, Hypnotic‘s charm can’t entirely mask its structural shortcomings. The plot is a tangled mess of contrivances and conveniences, relying on deus ex machina resolutions and convenient amnesia to tie up loose ends. The film’s attempts at emotional heft—particularly in Rourke’s relationship with his daughter—feel tacked on, lacking the depth to resonate amidst the spectacle. Moreover, the hypnosis premise, which could have been a fascinating exploration of perception and reality, is squandered in favor of cheap thrills and lazy plot devices.

The verdict: Hypnotic is a film that demands to be taken lightly, a guilty pleasure that knows exactly what it is and refuses to apologize for it. It’s not a coherent or particularly clever thriller, but it is undeniably entertaining in its own chaotic way.

Tags: mystery, Ben Affleck, Robert Rodriguez, Alice Braga, Hypnotic, William Fichtner