Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.5

Hypnosis Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 12, 2022

“Hypnosis” is a Russian production from 2020, and it’s largely being sold as a thriller, exploring the charged relationship between a hypnotherapist and his latest patient, a 16-year-old boy struggling with sleepwalking issues. There’s certainly the potential for a more explosive study of a seemingly manipulative relationship, but “Hypnosis” doesn’t pursue candied chills. Director Valey Todorovsky elects to make more of a psychological study with coming-of-age elements, settling on a slowly paced examination of control, which doesn’t always command attention, despite some strong performances and a vague sense of illness the helmer works up the energy to toy with on occasion.

Misha (Sergey Giro) is a teenager trying to make it through strange years of maturity and discovery, but he has an issue with sleepwalking that’s become dangerous. His concerned mother brings him to Dr. Volkov (Maksim Sukhanov), a respected hypnotherapist, and he begins to work with Misha, who refuses to believe he can succumb to hypnosis.

Misha’s doubt drives the plot of “Hypnosis,” with the teen put into a position of submission while dealing with everything else that comes with adolescence. Dr. Volkov is an imposing man with strange skills, and his mission isn’t entirely clear, forming the mystery part of the picture, which generates questions of ethics and mental penetration, but doesn’t kick over to anything more physical than that. “Hypnosis” actually finds more interesting material with Misha’s home life, interacting with his doubting father, nervous mother, and kid brother, and he finds excitement after meeting Polina (Polina Galkina), another Dr. Volkov patient who shows interest in the boy.

Hypnosis Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.38:1 aspect ratio) presentation preserves the feature's colder palette, which explores spare office spaces and wintery exteriors. Hues are secure throughout, with emphasis on browns and grays, while more pronounced primaries are found on adolescent fashion and household decoration. Skintones are natural. Detail captures textured skin surfaces and professional areas, and exteriors retain depth. Delineation is satisfactory.

Hypnosis Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix maintains appealing dialogue exchanges, with hushed interactions and more argumentative incidents balanced. Scoring cues retain instrumentation, adding appreciable mood to the endeavor, also pushing circular. Surrounds also do fine with atmospherics, offering a feel for wintry movement and public transportation. Low-end isn't challenged.

Hypnosis Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A U.S Trailer (1:39, HD) is included.

Hypnosis Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Hypnosis" has mood and capable performances, and time is spent defining the look of the feature, which is nicely shot. Mind games don't come to life here, which keeps the film a tad too sedate to encourage participation, finding tests of reality and stability appreciable but far from engrossing. "Hypnosis" probably works best without prior exposure to its misleading trailer, which promises a more visceral viewing experience than what's actually present here, but even then, the movie doesn't fully connect as an emotional journey.