5.7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
A detective investigates a mystery involving his missing daughter and a secret government program.
Starring: Ben Affleck, Alice Braga, JD Pardo, Dayo Okeniyi, Jeff FaheyThriller | Insignificant |
Mystery | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Co-writers Max Borenstein and Robert Rodriguez (who also directs) hope to tap into the joys of pulp sci-fi novels with “Hypnotic,” which is their version of a Philip K. Dick story, mixed with elements of “Scanners,” “The Matrix,” and Christopher Nolan productions. It’s a noir-ish take on mind-bending happenings, and it initially appears to play directly to Rodriguez’s strengths of slightly silly but kinetic entertainment, giving audiences a ride into a specialized unreality with a detective on the hunt for his missing daughter, discovering a hidden world of mind control. What’s actually presented here is far more sedate, as the writing pays closer attention to the mystery it’s trying to piece together than the thrills and spills it should provide. “Hypnotic” is strangely inert in many ways, occasionally showing signs of life when the movie locks into thriller mode, but these moments are sadly few and far between.
The AVC encoded image (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation offers a clear look at frame information for "Hypnotic." Detail is strong, getting right into skin particulars on the cast and their costuming, which retains fibrousness. Sets and locations are textured, with the story visiting various environments that favor sterility and ruin. Interiors hold depth and decoration, and exteriors are dimensional. Color is crisp, handling levels of reality for the endeavor. There's a bright sense of sun and blue skies when outdoors, and sets carry more extreme lighting at times, including a bunker stop that's bathed in orange and green. Primaries are distinct, with red favored throughout the viewing experience. Skin tones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Compression largely holds together, with very mild banding making a rare appearance.
The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix remains active to support the strange journey of reality "Hypnotic" takes. Dialogue exchanges are crisp, capably handling Ben Affleck's reserved line readings, which border on mumbling at times. Other performance choices are easy to follow. Scoring is lively, trying to work up excitement for screen action. It's synth-based music and retains sharp instrumentation, with some decent low-end emphasis at times. Surrounds are energetic, pushing out musical moods and working well with atmospherics as the endeavor deals with crowd bustle. Sound effects are also alert, preserving a more circular sense of gunfire and vehicle movement.
"Hypnotic" gets something going with a few chase sequences, including one set in a railyard, which allows Rodriguez to run around with the characters as they scramble for safety. He also enjoys visual effects, adding some literal folding to Danny's new world. However, most of the feature isn't that alert, and the material eventually goes deep into spoiler territory, though it's safe to report that Rodriguez and Borenstein have a dramatic destination in mind, taking up the second half of the film to get there. "Hypnotic" is a puzzle that's not begging to be solved, missing a rich sense of urgency and excitement, with everything downplayed and stiff, making the whole endeavor less entertaining than it should be.
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Limited Edition to 3000 - SOLD OUT
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Unrated Director's Cut
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