Hypnotic

Ben Affleck portrays Danny Rourke, a dogged detective who is driven to find his missing daughter while a city-wide mystery spirals into something bigger. As he investigates a string of crimes that seem to twist reality, he must confront a shadowy government initiative that may bend memory itself. The trail leads to allies like Diana Cruz (Alice Braga) and a corrosive figure named Dellrayne (William Fichtner), and the case is complicated by increasingly surreal episodes that blur the line between truth and manipulation. Minnie, Danny's ten-year-old daughter, becomes a disturbing touchstone that keeps the detective tethered to a dangerous conspiracy. The investigation evolves into a tense fight to recover control of his thoughts and uncover the program's true purpose. Its finale hints at consequences beyond one man and one city.

Directed by Robert Rodriguez from an original screenplay by Max Borenstein, Hypnotic arrived in 2023 as a modern thriller with sci fi leanings. The film features Ben Affleck, Alice Braga, William Fichtner and J D Pardo under Rodriguez's polished, fast paced direction.

Worldwide box office gross stood at about 16.0 million, a modest figure given the 70 million production budget. The release strategy leaned on multiplex screens and streaming ties, with audience turnout divided between critics who praised mood and others who called the plot overcomplicated.

Even as a midrange release, Hypnotic sparked chatter about memory manipulation and the ethics of government programs. Fans debated the plausibility of its premise on social media, and the film's sleek set pieces and haunting score earned attention in genre circles. Affleck's performance and Braga's pragmatic energy drew particular notice.

Critics offered mixed assessments of the screenplay, praising the film's ambition while complaining about pacing at points. The narrative toys with grief, memory, and accountability, asking how far a country should go to protect its secrets while keeping loved ones safe.