Trance

R

Released Apr 5, 2013

1 hr. 41 min.

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

List

69%

186 Reviews

Tomatometer

62%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Simon (James McAvoy), a fine-art auctioneer, joins a gang of thieves led by Franck (Vincent Cassel) to steal a priceless Goya painting. During the heist Simon suffers a head injury and awakes with no memory of where he hid the artwork. When torture and physical threats fail to break through his amnesia, Franck hires a hypnotherapist named Elizabeth (Rosario Dawson) to find the answer. But as Elizabeth probes the recesses of Simon's mind, the lines between truth and deceit start to blur.

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Critics Consensus

As stylish as ever, director Danny Boyle seems to be treading water with the surprisingly thinly written Trance -- but for fans of Boyle's work, it should still prove a trippily entertaining distraction.

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LÃºcio Leonardo P

I dare say that the film is really good! Yes, I agree, a little confusing, as we don't know if the scenes are images of hypnosis or if the situation is real, but everything is explained in the midst of chaos. Was it a tactic by director Danny Boyle to maintain suspense? If so, Danny did a great job directing. Actor James MacAvoy (remember WANTED from 2008?) is perfect in his character and his transformation. Could it be that being hypnotized we are so at their mercy? What a danger... Now, if not, then the film may be a bit exaggerated, but it still remains cool entertainment for those who are new to the subject, I liked it!!! And I have to confess, I was in a trance with the actress Rosário Dawson, oh oh, oh oh...

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/28/24

Full Review

F7 M

I have enjoyed watching it pretty good movie!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/18/23

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Andy B

After a decent start, for a large portion of it's midsection the film is grindingly slow, muddled and filled with unlikeable characters. The ending picks up a little, but not nearly enough to make up for the preceding hour.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

05/21/23

Full Review

jelisije j

A movie that had too many twists and turns that had so many unlikable characters ,but kept me interested even at the end.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

How could they not have smelled the half decayed body in the trunk?

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

80/100 -------------

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

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Danny Boyle

Director

James McAvoy

Simon

Rosario Dawson

Elizabeth

Vincent Cassel

Franck

Danny Sapani

Nate

Son of Havoc

Dominic

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

Trance is so in love with its dream-within-dream conceits it pays little attention to anything else. It pays little attention to detail, and you know how such things bother me.

Sep 4, 2018

Full Review

Ryan Gilbey

New Statesman

In the end, it's the unnecessary tricksiness of the film that halts its flow. A crucial human component is missing.

Oct 3, 2017

Full Review

Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

It's not that I don't think Boyle knows, by the time things start to get really bananas in the second half, that his movie is silly. I'm jut not convinced that he ever decided how he felt about it.

Jun 21, 2016

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Inside a twisting scenario about an art-heist-gone-wrong is Boyle’s more fascinating trip inside unconscious minds and damaged psyches.

Rated: 3.5/4

Sep 12, 2022

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

One of my least favorite of Boyle's films.

Rated: 2.5/4.0

Sep 26, 2020

Full Review

Brent McKnight

The Last Thing I See

"Trance" is glossy, slick, and, especially early on in the film, the trippy madness is a lot of fun. Though with all bells and whistles and brightly colored shiny things, it's never as shocking or complex as it aims to be.

Rated: C+

Jul 9, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

Simon (James McAvoy), a fine-art auctioneer, joins a gang of thieves led by Franck (Vincent Cassel) to steal a priceless Goya painting. During the heist Simon suffers a head injury and awakes with no memory of where he hid the artwork. When torture and physical threats fail to break through his amnesia, Franck hires a hypnotherapist named Elizabeth (Rosario Dawson) to find the answer. But as Elizabeth probes the recesses of Simon's mind, the lines between truth and deceit start to blur.

Director: Danny Boyle
Executive Producer: Bernard Bellew, François Ivernel, Cameron McCracken, Tessa Ross, Steven Rales, Mark Roybal
Screenwriter: Joe Ahearne, John Hodge
Distributor: Fox Searchlight
Production Co: Cloud Eight, Decibel Films
Rating: R (Language|Graphic Nudity|Sexual Content|Some Grisly Images|Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 5, 2013, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 12, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.3M

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