Hypnotic Review: Can Someone Please Wake Ben Affleck Up In Robert Rodriguez’s Inception Rip-Off?

Hypnotic (NC16)

Starring Ben Affleck, Alice Braga, Willian Fichtner, Jackie Earle Haley

Directed by Robert Rodriguez

Affleck gives a sleep-walking performance as a cop on the trail of a ‘hypnotic’ (Fichtner) — someone gifted with the power to manipulate minds a la Kilgrave in Jessica Jones — who’s linked to his daughter’s abduction. The wannabe franchise starter (end-credits stinger alert!) is a Frankenstein’s monster assembled from ideas lifted from Inception, Memento and even Affleck’s own Paycheck. But the combo is low-yield, missing the chutzpah that defined director Robert Rodriguez’s earlier works (Desperado, From Dusk Till Dawn). No siree, Hypnotic feels like the unwieldy work of a novice, someone who’s either phoning it in or, worse, hypnotised. Wake up! —  (2/5 stars) in cinemas now

Photos: Encore Films

The Mother (M18)

Starring Jennifer Lopez, Joseph Fiennes, Omari Hardwick, Gael Garcia Bernal, Lucy Paez

Directed by Nik Caro

Lopez is one mean mother in this otherwise standard-issue Netflix action flick: star-driven, under-powered, and instantly forgettable. JLo stars as a sniper-turned-informant forced out of hiding when bad guys (Fiennes and Bernal underused as villains) try to get back at her for ratting them out to the Feds — by targeting the daughter (Lucy Paez, super-annoying) she gave up for adoption. Phew! Make no mistake, Lopez can do badass (remember Enough?) but the by-the-number action sequences, schmaltzy moments and infuriating plot turns (the offspring picks the worst time to disobey mummy) get in her way. The Long Kiss Goodnight, this isn’t. (2.5/5 stars) on Netflix

Photo: Eric Milner/Netflix   

Home For Rent (NC16)

Starring Sukollawat Kanarot, Nittha Jirayungyurn

Directed by Sophon Sakdaphisit

The phrase “Tenants from Hell” takes on a literal meaning in this Thai scream-fest when a married couple (Kanarot and Jirayungyurn) unknowingly lease their house to a black magic cult. Helmer Sophon Sakdaphisit’s been down the stigmatised-property nightmare alley before with 2011’s Laddaland, but this time he’s more assured and focused on telling what is essentially a tale of parental grief — by way of Pet Sematary, Annabelle and Rosemary’s Baby — sprinkled with solid boos as well as maddening silly moments that’ll invoke your inner Roy Kent. For f***k’s sake, lady, can’t you go snooping around during the day?!. Just saying. (3/5 stars) in cinemas now

Photo: Golden Village Pictures