Hypnotic (2021) is a thriller film that begins with Andrew Bowen, a woman who is terrified because she is being followed by something. She then receives a phone call from an unknown number, making her suddenly panic as if trapped in a lift. Jenn, on the other hand, visits her friend Gina’s house party and meets her ex-fiancé, Brian, and an expert therapist, Dr. Collin Meade. Dr. Meade, who seems interested in Jenn, engages her in a conversation until she provides him with her contact number. Several days later, Jenn meets with Dr. Meade for a therapy session where she admits to being unhappy since her separation from Brian due to her miscarriage.
Despite her initial skepticism, Jenn ultimately agrees to undergo hypnotherapy to ease her stress, and Dr. Meade convinces her to do so by suggesting that only Jenn can control her subconscious mind. During the session, Jenn appears to feel nothing, although it lasts for roughly an hour. Afterward, she returns home and resumes her normal life. She later gets a new job and sees Dr. Meade again, who suggests that she invite Brian over for dinner to mend their relationship. While Jenn is shopping for the dinner needs, she gets a call from an unknown number.
The scene then shifts to Jenn at the dinner table, while Brian is comatose due to poisoning. Following that incident, Jenn starts to investigate Dr. Meade and discovers Andrea Bowen’s death after a hypnotherapy session with him. Jenn also recalls that she subconsciously purchased the poisonous sauce and unwittingly poisoned Brian. She and Gina then meet with Wade Rollins, who used to handle Andrea Bowen’s case. Afterward, they meet Dr. Meade and ask him to perform hypnosis while secretly recording the session. Instead of confessing to the murder, Dr. Meade tries to convince Jenn to be honest about her meeting with Detective Rollins, who he believes is interfering with his plans.
Dr. Meade, who feels disturbed by Gina and her husband, telephones Gina and implants a suggestion that leads to their deaths in a car accident. Shortly after, Detective Rollins is attacked by a patient who has been subjected to Dr. Meade’s suggestion to kill him. After witnessing the incident, Jenn decides to seek the assistance of another hypnosis expert recommended by Rollins. During hypnosis, she recalls Xavier Sullivan’s house, a former CIA hypnosis expert.
In conclusion, Hypnotic (2021) is a thrilling film that highlights how hypnotherapy can be abused to commit crimes. While initially skeptical, Jenn ultimately agrees to undergo hypnotherapy, unaware that it would lead to a series of life-threatening events. The movie’s storytelling is fantastic, filled with interesting twists and turns that keep viewers enthralled. Kate Siegel delivers a commendable performance as Jenn, expressing her emotions brilliantly throughout the film. Overall, this movie is an excellent choice for thriller enthusiasts or anyone interested in hypnotherapy’s better understanding.
