Directed and co-written by Robert Rodriguez (Sin City (2005); Spy Kids (2001); Machete (2010)) and starring Ben Affleck (Argo (2012); Good Will Hunting (1997); Gone Girl (2014)), Alice Braga (I Am Legend (2007); Elysium (2013); Predators (2010); The Suicide Squad (2021)), JD Pardo (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 (2012); The Contractor (2022); Revolution (tv series, 2012 - 2014)), Dayo Okeniyi (Rise (2022); Emperor (2020); The Hunger Games (2012)) and William Fichtner (Crash (2004); Black Hawk Down (2001); Armageddon (1998)).
Thriller; 93 mins; 12+
The storyline starts off with detective Danny Rourke (Ben Affleck) on a therapist's couch where he relives the moment when his daughter goes missing in a park when he was supposed to be taking care of her... Nevertheless, he is passed fit to return to work as his partner River (Dayo Okeniyi) alerts him to a bank heist for which he received a tip-off.
When he arrives at the scene and they enter the surveillance van, Danny sees some suspicious activity which he acts upon, leading him into the vault of safety deposit boxes whereupon he sees a photograph of his missing daughter and a clue referencing Lev Dellrayne (William Fichtner) who he subsequently learns possesses the power to control minds.
The trail leads them to Diana Cruz (Alice Braga), a fortune-teller who he discovers is a powerful hypnotist trained by a secretive government division; the trail also reveals the existence of a powerful weapon known as "Domino" which was stolen from the division by Lev Dellrayne. On the run, Rourke and Cruz escape to Mexico where they unearth more about the weapon and the truth about their own abilities.
So far, so good. Then the plot becomes quite complex, but well constructed and stylishly portrayed on the big screen, taking several twists and turns along the way, to eventually enabling Rourke to discover the truth about his daughter - and himself - before a climax that sets up the potential for a sequel...
With comparisons to Minority Report and even The Matrix, as well as a number of other films featuring mind control where one questions if what you are seeing is actually real. Good acting and something a bit different from the rest; very enjoyable.
Currently screening in Luxembourg at Kinepolis.
