Review of The Hypnotist

When a gym teacher is found stabbed to death the police go to his home to inform his family and are shocked to discover that his wife and daughter have been similarly murdered and his son is seriously injured. He is taken to hospital but is unable to recall what happened. Detective Inspector Joona Linna is investigating the case but has no idea how to proceed until it is suggested that he brings in psychiatrist Erik Bark to hypnotise the boy. This leads to some advances in the case but it also leads to Bark and his family being targeted by a mystery character in a hood. This character breaks into their house, drugs his wife and kidnaps his son before making it clear that they want Bark to stop helping the investigation.

This is a decent enough Swedish murder mystery even if it felt more like a television drama than a film made for the cinema. The mystery was interesting enough and there were some twists… even if when they are revealed they feel a bit cliché. There is plenty of tension and an impressive finale involving a bus on a frozen lake. The acting is solid without being overly showy with fine performances from Tobias Zilliacus, Mikael Persbrandt and Lena Olin as DI Linna and the Barks. Overall a solid enough Scandi-drama that fans of the genre might enjoy even if it isn't one of the best.

These comments are based on watching the film in Swedish with English subtitles.