Hypnotic

As Danny Rourke (Ben Affleck), a seasoned detective with the Austin Police Department, relives the traumatic kidnapping of his seven-year-old daughter Minnie (Ionie Olivia Nieves) three years prior, the wounds of that fateful day still linger. The case, which led to the disintegration of his marriage, remains shrouded in mystery, with Lyle Terry's arrest and subsequent plea of not guilty due to mental incapacity leaving more questions than answers. Terry's claim of no memory or knowledge of Minnie's whereabouts only adds to the enigma.

Meanwhile, Rourke's partner Nicks (J. D. Pardo) brings him an anonymous tip that a safe deposit box will be robbed at a local bank, sparking Rourke's interest due to a string of peculiar bank robberies where thieves have been targeting specific boxes without taking any cash. Convinced that this might be more than just a routine heist, Nicks convinces Rourke to investigate further.

As they stake out the bank, Rourke and Nicks witness a group of seemingly ordinary civilians and police officers receiving instructions from an enigmatic figure, all of whom promptly follow his commands without question. Rourke's radar goes off, and he becomes convinced that this is more than just a simple bank job. He decides to take matters into his own hands, entering the vault under the guise of opening a new safety deposit box account.

What he finds inside is a photograph of Minnie with the cryptic message "Find Lev Dellrayne" scrawled across it. The guards and civilians then work in tandem to steal a specific safe deposit box from the vault and deliver it to the mysterious mastermind, who ultimately escapes but leaves behind a trail of breadcrumbs for Rourke.

The detective is now more convinced than ever that this heist is somehow connected to his daughter's disappearance, and his suspicions are confirmed when he comes face-to-face with the enigmatic figure, who reveals that Lyle Terry was merely a pawn in a larger game. The mysterious man vanishes into thin air, leaving Rourke with more questions than answers.

As Rourke delves deeper into the mystery, Nicks' investigation into the anonymous tip-off call leads him to the doorstep of fortune-teller Diana Cruz (Alice Braga). Cruz's revelations only serve to further mystify the case, as she reveals that the mysterious bank robber is none other than Lev Dellrayne (William Fichtner), a member of an elite group known as the "Hypnotics." The stakes are raised when Dellrayne sends a hired gun to eliminate Cruz and Rourke, only for the would-be assassin to take his own life in defeat.

As Cruz (character) reveals to Rourke, the truth about powerful hypnotists lies shrouded in secrecy. These individuals possess the uncanny ability to influence the human brain over a psychic bandwidth, distinguishing them from telepaths who merely read minds. Hypnotics, on the other hand, can reshape reality itself. Cruz's words are laced with an air of mystery as she discloses that these hypnotists were once trained by a clandestine government organization known only as "Division." The very notion sends shivers down Rourke's spine.

Cruz proceeds to share her unsettling discovery - that Rourke is mysteriously impervious to her mind control abilities. To illustrate this point, she effortlessly manipulates Nicks' actions, bending him to her will like a puppet on strings. This peculiarity piques Rourke's curiosity, leading Cruz to propose an astonishing explanation: Rourke's psychic block may be the result of emotional trauma or the searing pain of losing his daughter.

The enigmatic Dellrayne is introduced as a legendary figure within the Hypnotics community, who went rogue in pursuit of achieving the full potential of their craft. His ambition was to usurp control over the Division, with Cruz serving as an insurmountable obstacle in his path. Dellrayne's malevolent presence is palpable as he hypnotizes Nicks into attacking Rourke and Cruz, forcing Cruz to take drastic measures in self-defense.

The aftermath of this violent encounter finds Rourke and Cruz fleeing Mexico, with the authorities hot on their heels. Rourke becomes increasingly convinced that Dellrayne is behind Minnie's abduction, a notion that fuels his determination to find her.

Their quest takes them to Mexico, where they seek out Jeremiah (Jackie Earle Haley), a former Division contact of Cruz's. His revelations paint a chilling picture: Dellrayne is on the hunt for "Domino," a powerful tool developed by the Division and stolen by Dellrayne during his escape. This mysterious device has the capability to control even the most formidable Hypnotic, with Dellrayne serving as its ultimate target.

As Dellrayne's memories begin to resurface, he leaves behind cryptic triggers that will gradually guide him towards Domino's location, concurrently amplifying his regained hypnotic power. The stakes are raised further as Dellrayne employs his abilities to manipulate civilians, pursuing Rourke and Cruz from Jeremiah's apartment into the surrounding city.

However, Rourke surprises himself by tapping into a previously unknown reservoir of hypnotic power, allowing him to counteract Dellrayne's control over the civilians and secure their escape. This sudden development hints at a deeper connection between Rourke's past and his newfound abilities.

Rourke and Cruz next seek out River (Dayo Okeniyi), a reclusive Division hacker with unparalleled skills. His hacking exploits yield a pivotal discovery: Rourke's former wife, Vivian (Kelly Frye), was once a member of the Division. This revelation sparks a new theory - that Rourke himself is another Hypnotic whose memories were deliberately erased.

As the night wears on, Rourke delves deeper into River's database, uncovering an explosive truth: Minnie is not just any ordinary individual; she is the very embodiment of "Domino." As the daughter of two powerful hypnotics - Rourke and Vivian - her existence holds the key to unlocking the mystery surrounding the elusive Domino. Furthermore, Cruz's true identity is revealed - she is none other than Vivian herself, whose face Rourke had unwittingly altered in his memory, convincing him that "Cruz" was a stranger.

As Rourke's consciousness awakens, he discovers that his entire journey has been a sophisticated illusion crafted by the Division. The meticulously constructed scenarios, replete with familiar faces and settings, were merely a ruse designed to manipulate him into recalling Minnie's location. Vivian, once revealed as the Division's mastermind, attempts to sway Rourke with her words of affection, but he sees through her deceitful façade.

The truth begins to unravel as Rourke's memories are reset, transporting him back to the initial therapy session. However, his extraordinary abilities allow him to break free from the constructed reality and make a daring escape. In his wake, he leaves behind a cryptic message scrawled on a notepad, which Nicks eventually deciphers.

As Rourke flees the Division's clutches, their agents are left stunned by the realization that "Find Lev Dellrayne" is actually a reference to Deer Valley Lane – a dead-end road with a solitary ranch, now the site of his desperate bid for freedom. There, he reunites with Minnie (Hala Finley), who has grown under the watchful eyes of Rourke's own foster parents, who have lovingly nurtured her powers over the past three years.

When the Division invades the sanctuary, Minnie unleashes her extraordinary abilities, confounding and disorienting her pursuers. In a stunning twist, she also restores Vivian's memories, prompting the latter to realize that she inadvertently facilitated Rourke and Minnie's escape, subsequently erasing her own recollections to unwittingly guide the Division to their quarry.

Confronted with the futility of evasion, Rourke and Vivian come to understand that the only path to true liberation lies in destroying the Division once and for all.

As the truth slowly begins to unravel, a shocking revelation emerges: Minnie is the mastermind behind the mysterious "Find Lev Dellrayne" photograph, which unwittingly sets off a chain reaction that sets the entire Division on high alert. The seemingly innocuous snap sparks a frantic search, as agents scramble to track down their quarry. But little do they know, their efforts are being expertly manipulated from behind the scenes by Minnie herself. With her ultimate goal within reach, she pulls the strings, orchestrating a catastrophic series of events that pit Division agent against Division agent in a brutal battle royale. As chaos erupts and the very fabric of their organization begins to fray, Minnie's triumphant smile gleams with an air of satisfaction, basking in the glow of her newfound freedom, alongside her beaming parents and Rourke's foster family, who revel in the joy of liberation.