Skip to main content

Hypnotic (2023)

 


Hypnotic is a thriller by Robert Rodriguez. This is his first feature film since Alita: Battle Angel. There have been a lot of rumors about a sequel to that movie, which I would be excited to see. RR has been one of my favorite directors working today. Not only is he a native Texan but he also hires a lot of Texans/Mexicans to be in his films. You might remember Planet Terror, or Sin City.

The marketing department really failed on this movie. I didn't even know it was coming out. I checked my AMC app and then noticed Ben Affleck, then saw the director and was blown away that this slipped under the radar.

The writer, excluding Rodriguez, is Max Borenstein. Technically the screenwriter. Max has done some good things in the past with Godzilla: King of the Monsters and Godzilla vs. Kong. The story is intriguing and out there but kinda boring at times. 

Alice Braga plays the love interest. She's been in a bunch of movies and is totally underrated. She was in I Am Legend, Elysium, and Predators. Rodriguez typically casts a Hispanic actress if the main actor is white. She has to play three different versions of herself in the movie and I won't spoil it but then again if you're interested in this film enough to read a review for it. You've probably already seen the film.

Perhaps that's a bad thing. There are some bad CGI 'inception' moments, but other than that the film is solid and entertaining, B-

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Housemaid (2025)

The Housemaid (2025) is directed by Paul Feig , best known for comedies like Bridesmaids and Freaks and Geeks , and the tonal clash is noticeable. Feig leans into slick presentation and surface-level tension, but the film never quite reconciles its thriller ambitions with its obvious messaging. As an adaptation, it feels safer and more predictable than it wants to be, especially given how clearly it telegraphs its twists. Sydney Sweeney , known for Euphoria and Anyone But You , plays a down-on-her-luck woman recently out on parole who is desperate for work. She does what she can with the role and brings some emotional weight early on, but the writing limits her range. Her character cycles through bashful and annoyed so often that it starts to feel repetitive rather than psychologically layered. Amanda Seyfried , recognizable from Mamma Mia! and Mean Girls , plays the wealthy woman whose life slowly unravels as the power dynamic flips. Seyfried is solid and more controlled than Sw...

Marty Supreme (2025)

Marty Supreme (2025) is written and directed by Josh Safdie , who previously directed Good Time and Uncut Gems . This film carries that same frantic Safdie energy, with constant motion and pressure that rarely lets the audience breathe. It is chaotic by design, sometimes to a fault, but the intensity feels intentional rather than sloppy. Even when the pacing threatens to overwhelm, the film remains compelling due to the strength of its performances. Timothée Chalamet , known for Dune and Call Me by Your Name , plays the title role and fits it perfectly. He fully commits to the character’s ambition and volatility, balancing confidence with insecurity in a way that feels natural for him at this stage of his career. This is not a transformative performance, but it is a highly effective one, and he clearly understands the rhythm and demands of a Safdie-style film. Odessa A’zion , who audiences may recognize from Grand Army and Hellraiser (2022) , is a standout as the love interest. S...

Anaconda (2025)

Anaconda (2025) is a reboot comedy of the 90s film, written and directed by Tom Gormican , who previously delivered the clever and self-aware The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent . Unfortunately, that lightning does not strike twice. The core problem is simple. The jokes do not land. If horror films are judged by scares per minute, then comedies should be judged by laughs per minute, and this one delivers virtually none. Any humor that works was already burned in the trailer, leaving the film feeling empty and painfully drawn out. Jack Black , known for School of Rock and Jumanji , leans heavily into his loud, chaotic persona, but here it becomes grating rather than charming. His performance feels unchecked and repetitive, as if volume alone is meant to substitute for comedy. Instead of elevating scenes, he often drains them of momentum. Paul Rudd , who audiences know from Ant-Man and I Love You, Man , somehow comes off just as irritating. Rudd is usually likable even in weak m...