“Murderous Trance,” a psychological thriller, draws its inspiration from the actual hypnosis murders that took place in Denmark during the 1950s—a case where a man was convicted of manipulating someone into committing an offense. The concept holds considerable potential for a film, however, director Arto Halonen’s final version feels like a lackluster drama that doesn't possess the necessary originality to distinguish itself. Detective Anders Olsen, portrayed by Pilou Asbæk, finds himself investigating a Copenhagen robbery where a bank robber fatally shoots two clerks and escapes with the money, which remains unrecovered. Witnesses during questioning state the perpetrator appeared to be in some kind of trance, creating an unusual situation for the investigation. It’s revealed that the suspect had previously been incarcerated alongside Björn Schow Nielsen (Josh Lucas), a compelling individual with an interest in practices like mental manipulation and suggestion. Olsen begins to wonder if Björn used hypnosis to influence another inmate into carrying out the crime, but this idea seems so far-fetched that it encounters opposition. He seeks assistance from a well-known hypnotist (Rade Serbedzija) hoping to get closer to the truth. The narrative itself is compelling and brings up thought-provoking questions about whether individuals can be put under such intense hypnosis that they would violate their own sense of right and wrong. Stories involving mystical elements often risk going too far, and this film occasionally veers into implausibility with its reliance on scenes depicting deep sleep and psychological analysis. The consistency of the presentation becomes wearing, although the aspects related to crime investigation are somewhat engaging. “Murderous Trance” isn’t a complete failure, but I wouldn't suggest looking for it unless you have a strong interest in true crime or the study of mind control. Even then, reading about the actual events that inspired the film might be a more worthwhile experience.

Source on TMDB