Watch Trance

Trance is a 2013 psychological thriller directed by Danny Boyle and starring James McAvoy, Rosario Dawson, and Vincent Cassel. The story follows Simon (McAvoy) as an auctioneer who is involved in the theft of a valuable painting, only to suffer from amnesia during the heist and forget where he hid the artwork. Simon is then forced to undergo hypnotherapy with therapist Elizabeth (Dawson) in order to recover his memories and retrieve the painting.

The film opens with Simon introducing the audience to his job as an auctioneer and explaining the security measures in place to prevent thefts of valuable art. However, the night of the auction, Simon is caught in the midst of a carefully planned heist by Franck (Cassel) and his team. In the ensuing chaos, Simon hits his head and suffers from amnesia, causing him to forget where he hid the painting. Franck becomes increasingly desperate to retrieve the painting, as he owes a large sum of money to his criminal associates.

Enter Elizabeth, a hypnotist who specializes in helping clients recover lost memories. Simon is referred to Elizabeth by Franck in the hopes that she can help extract the information he needs to find the stolen painting. As Simon begins to undergo hypnotherapy, he realizes that he is not the only one with a hidden agenda. Elizabeth seems to be manipulating him, and Simon struggles to distinguish between reality and the hallucinations caused by the hypnosis.

The film keeps the audience in a state of constant uncertainty, as each new revelation raises more questions than it answers. Is Elizabeth trying to help Simon or is she working with Franck? Does Simon really have amnesia, or is he lying? As Simon becomes more and more enmeshed in the web of deception, it becomes clear that nothing in this film is as it seems.

Throughout the film, Boyle uses bold colors and inventive camera angles to heighten the sense of disorientation felt by the characters. The hypnotic sequences are particularly striking, with distorted visuals and eerie soundscapes that create a sense of otherworldliness. The film's soundtrack, composed by Rick Smith of the electronic music duo Underworld, is a perfect match for the trippy, dreamlike atmosphere of the hypnosis scenes.

The performances in Trance are top-notch, with McAvoy, Dawson, and Cassel all delivering nuanced and complex performances. McAvoy in particular shines as Simon, portraying a character who is equal parts vulnerable and manipulative. His interactions with Elizabeth are particularly compelling, as they play a game of cat and mouse that blurs the lines between professional and personal.

One of the most notable aspects of Trance is its willingness to take risks and experiment with narrative structure. The film is structured in a non-linear fashion, with scenes jumping back and forth in time and revealing new information at unexpected moments. While this can be disorienting at times, it ultimately adds to the film's sense of unpredictability and keeps the audience on edge.

In conclusion, Trance is a thrilling and mind-bending ride that will keep you guessing until the very end. With its striking visuals, bold performances, and unconventional narrative structure, this film is a must-see for fans of psychological thrillers.

Trance is a 2013 thriller with a runtime of 1 hour and 57 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9 and a MetaScore of 61.