Robert Rodriguez is, for better or worse, the “fun” director. His name has become synonymous with the Spy Kids franchise — at least among a younger generation — but even his darker fare comes with a gonzo, stylized aesthetic baked in. Watching Rodriguez work, especially at the height of his creative power, is always a good time. Unfortunately, none of that creativity is on display in Hypnotic. Rodriguez’s latest is a slick yet sleepy thriller that feels utterly disconnected from any real creative vision — ironic, given how it’s been touted as a decades-spanning passion project.
