Hypnotica is A.T. Sharma’s writing and directing debut. The opening of the film, also known as Unhinged, informs the audience that it is “based on real case studies.” That is, the plot is culled from supposedly true accounts that transpired between therapists and their patients. The question is not whether anything depicted here actually happened, real or fictional doesn’t matter. The question is, can the first-time filmmaker wring horror out of a man lying on a couch in a therapist’s office?
Oliver (Adam Johnson) is seeing Dr. Mason (Tim Torre) in a last-ditch attempt to save himself from being ousted by his company’s board. Unfortunately, nothing the good doctor has done so far has helped Oliver, though he seems not to be taking any of this seriously. However, Oliver is plagued with sleepless nights, and things from his past haunt him daily. So Mason puts Oliver under hypnosis which dirges up long-forgotten past trauma. But is it Oliver’s trauma or Mason’s that the patient is experiencing?
The character of Dr. Mason is married to Cassie (Taylor Foster). And this is one of the flaws of Hypontica. There are only a few scenes between Mason and Cassie, so when she gets frustrated and tells him not to bring his work home, it does not work as intended. However, a fantastic little scene at the end (no spoilers) perfectly explains the gulf between them. But the film is only 75 minutes, give or take, and expanding this relationship would really add some more stakes to the proceedings.
“…is it Oliver’s trauma or Mason’s that the patient is experiencing?”
The other issue also revolves around the film’s length. Mason researches new, experimental therapies and investigates the odd things that happened to Oliver during treatment. However, these scenes fly by so quickly, and Oliver is again under hypnosis before all watching can process the information. Brevity is all well and good, but it should not come at the cost of character arcs or plot cohesion.
With all that being said, Hypnotica is an engaging little film. The special effects are well used and blended into the scenes seamlessly (minus the red eyes, which are a bit goofy). More importantly, Sharma creates tension in the various sessions through careful editing and strong performances. The writing helps as well. Whenever coming out of therapy, Oliver is confused about what happened and cannot recall the session. This only adds to the unease and makes audiences question whether Oliver is pranking the doctor or if something more sinister is afoot (this is a dramatic horror tale, so…).
Then there’s the cast. Despite needing a few more scenes together, Torre and Foster play off each other nicely. Foster plays Cassie as wary and worried, just not for the expected reasons. Torre brings sympathy to the doctor in over his head. But this is Johnson’s film to steal, which is precisely what he does. While not a household name, the actor has a loyal following due to his stint on The Outpost and starring in fantasy-themed films such as Mythica and The Christmas Dragon. It is no surprise, then, that he delivers wonderfully. He’s confused, scared, intimidating, maddening, and empathic all at once. Johnson’s extraordinary performance is reason enough alone to check out this film.
The conclusion of Hypnotica recalls Prey For The Devil (which I liked) a bit. It’s unexpected, but it makes total sense. The cast is strong, and the tension and dread are palpable. While the film could be a bit longer to strengthen some character interactions, Sharma’s first time out is a success nonetheless.
