Hypnotisören ( The Hypnotist )

Lasse Hallström is one of the few swedish directors who made a big career in Hollywood, with different results. 25 years ago, before he made his big break through in America, he directed the swedish classic Mitt Liv Som Hund ( My Life As A Dog ), a movie that gave him alot of praise from audience and critics. I were surprised to find out he returned to Sweden to make a swedish thriller, since he mostly done american drama movies over the years. With Hallström back in his home country, is The Hypnosist a nice surprice, or a big let down?

A whole family is found brutally murdered, where one of the victims is found alive, in critical condition. Criminal inspector Joona Linna ( Tobias Zilliacus ) tries to find out what happened that night, by hoping to get information from the surviving victim Josef ( Jonathan Bökman ). But his condition makes it difficult for him to speak, so hospital doctor Daniella ( Helena Af Sandberg ) have an idea, she knows a professional hypnosist Erik Maria Bark ( Mikael Persbrandt ), who helped victims before. Inspector Joona contats hypnosist Erik, as he agrees to help the victim. But when he succeeds to get connected with the victim, everything is not what it seems.

I would not call The Hypnotist anything special, its a thriller drama with a lot of psychological perspective. But what makes this work, is the acting. Lena Olin as the wife of Persbrandt gives a well made performace, and i can´t complain about Persbrandt either, he is way better here than in Hamilton 2. The pussle itself is not anything unique, but all together The Hypnosist delivers a small positive surprise, from a director that have not done anything here in Sweden for so many years. If you love psychological thrillers with more story than special effects, this may be what you are looking for. And that The Hypnotist have been selected as Best Foreign Movie at the Oscars 2013, were not expected. Let´s just hope they win, i can´t remember the last time we sent a good swedish movie to the Annual Academy Awards.

Rating: DDD