HYPNOTIC on Netflix is a new psychological horror thriller starring Kate Siegel. While the visual style and the pace of the movie is great, the story is too weak. Or rather, too predictable and irritating at times. Read our full Hypnotic movie review here!
HYPNOTIC is a new Netflix movie in the thriller, horror, and mystery categories. It’s all about the power of hypnosis and how this can be grossly misused. We’ve seen hypnosis (or hypnotherapy) used in thrillers and horror movies before. Still, this Netflix movie does have a few new things up its sleeve.
Not all of them are good – since you’ll have guessed them way ahead of time – but it does win by having Kate Siegel as its star. Also, I very much enjoyed the visual style and pacing of the crisp 88-minute runtime. My main issue is with the story and I can’t falter the cast with this.
Continue reading our Hypnotic movie review below and find it on Netflix now.
Kate Siegel saves new Netflix movie
While Hypnotic proves to me that Kate Siegel and Mike Flanagan truly are a match made in heaven (especially for us horror fans), it also shows how much of a positive impact she can have on a more mediocre movie. Kate Siegel also starred in (and co-wrote) Hush which was directed by Mike Flanagan and released on Netflix, starting their Netflix adventure.
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
Don’t get me wrong, Hypnotic isn’t a bad movie. It just doesn’t feel very fresh or innovative, which Mike Flanagan productions always manage to.
What does work is Kate Siegel as the starring actor and – this is hardly a spoiler – the ultimate modern final girl. As the watcher of this Netflix movie, I feel completely safe that the character played by Kate Siegel won’t disappoint. She will have guts, courage, be vulnerable, and most definitely kick some serious butt!
In true Mike Flanagan and Kate Siegel fashion, there is also a tiny little Easter Egg of a sort. One of the previous victims in Hypnotic is shown briefly. It’s the image of Katie Parker who has been in virtually every (if not every single) production by Mike Flanagan and Kate Siegel.
Kate Siegel and Katie Parker also starred in episode 8 of The Haunting of Bly Manor.
The ending of Hypnotic on Netflix
No, Hypnotic isn’t the kind of Netflix movie that requires an “ending explained”. In fact, it’s exactly the kind of Netflix production that many people will love because it’s wrapped up very nicely. Something I can appreciate as much as the next person.
What I do want to mention about the Hypnotic ending is the fact that it was far too predictable.
Every single plot twist seemed to have been foreshadowed very heavily just a few minutes earlier. And hey, I know many people will feel comfort in this and enjoy the movie more for it. I’m just not one of those people. Essentially, I wanted to mention this specifically because it does way heavily on the overall rating.
Watch Hypnotic on Netflix now!
The director-duo consisting of Matt Angel and Suzanne Coote directed Hypnotic for Netflix. This is their second Netflix movie after The Open House which became a rather big hit. And also, famed for having people hate the ending. So much so that the rating of that movie is under 4 on IMDb.
WANT TO READ ABOUT THE OPEN HOUSE ENDING
Check out our Netflix movie The Open House ending explained feature here >
I actually liked the ending of The Open House because it delivered both an answer and a more realistic ambiguity. For Hypnotic, the ending is a lot more definitive, which I’m sure will appeal to many. Personally, I think the movie works due to Kate Siegel, but I wasn’t crazy about the plot.
Mostly due to having guessed most of it way ahead of time. Also, I loathe when people act in ways that feel counterintuitive only to further a specific direction. Again, this was not Kate Siegel’s character. All in all, this is a solid “middle of the road” experience that should land at 2½ out of 5. Only, we don’t do half stars and I can’t go higher for this one.
Hypnotic is out on Netflix from October 27, 2021.
Details
Directors: Matt Angel & Suzanne Coote
Writer: Richard D’Ovidio
Stars: Kate Siegel, Jason O’Mara, Dulé Hill, Lucie Guest, Jaime M. Callica, Tanja Dixon-Warren, Devyn Dalton, Luc Roderique
Plot
Feeling stuck both personally and professionally, Jenn (Kate Siegel), a young woman reeling from a series of traumatic events, enlists a renowned hypnotherapist, Dr. Meade (Jason O’Mara), to help on her road to recovery. After a handful of intense sessions, terrifying events, and mysterious blackouts, Jenn soon finds herself caught in a dangerous mind game. With the help of Detective Wade Rollins (Dulé Hill), Jen looks to put the pieces together before it’s too late and there are deadly consequences.
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