So much average

Powerful

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

This film is a Spanish thriller about madness and denial of reality… When you live a shocking event which deeply affect your emotional stability, your brain has the tendency to reject it, deny it, and sometimes to forget it, either you want it or not… It's a natural instinct. This is the main topic of this movie.The entire film is greatly shot and has a fantastic cinematography, which combines the surreal with the artsy, in great scenarios and camera shots. The plot is involved in mystery since the beginning and the effect of the flashbacks, the white and minimal scenarios, and the whispering voices repeating what was said, like echoes, give it the surreal and sometimes almost lunatic ambiance… The plot is confusing, complex, and not easy to understand; at least until the last five minutes, where the explanations are given, and then all makes sense…There's one sentence in the movie which I appreciated and I think that resumes it very well: "Madness is the eruption of dreams in reality. The bad thing is that you can't distinguish them…"

A dark night, the police receives a mysterious message. A dead woman is found and next to her lays a girl in shock. Beatriz is a famous doctor that starts to work in a mental hospital specialized in hypnosis. While she studies the case of the girl, the little commits suicide, which will cause Beatriz to enter into a world where it is difficult to distinguish between reality and dream. The plot is interesting and at the beginning, the movie is quite catching, but, as the movie develops, it becomes clear that it has anything worthy. It becomes not terrifying nor thrilling, just weird and boring. As an opera prima it is, it's clear to realize that many scenes could be better filmed and the plot is maybe too complex for a newbie. Perhaps with more experience and clearer ideas, the movie could be better. The acting does not helps, too. As at any moment the actors feel comfortable in their papers, perhaps is the inexperienced director that makes this, as he is not able to transmit everything he wants to transmit. the directing its promising, but the experience makes the grade, perhaps in the future, he will make a good film. Let's wait for it.

********************************************************************* Although the movie is a little bit confusing at times, don't worry. In the end everything comes together. I'm really impressed with this thriller and I really would like to recommend it. The plot is ingenious and well crafted. What took me by shock was the fact that this one isn't an American movie (almost all movies I get are American and the Title is a little bit suggesting - Hipnos). I realized it on the first scenes (good way to practice my Spanish).**************************** ********************************************************************* ********************************************************************* *********************************************************************

In the last few years Spanish cinema has witnessed the proliferation of a series of new directors who devote their careers to horror films and thrillers. While some of them have been quite irregular, others (specially Jaume Balagueró) have provided a new insight to the concept of Spanish thrillers. David Carreras, in his debut film, has shown a very promising skill as a director and screenwriter.Technically outstanding, "Hipnos" will make you bite your nails with only a few hints of blood and with no need of psychopaths or ghosts. While most thrillers are ruined by iffy endings, "Hipnos" is rounded by an acceptably believable third act. It could certainly have been better, but it should be praised by its value in technical aspects and storyline.