It seems that writer-director Alejandro Amenabar is taking us back to the claustrophobic tensions of his 2001 international hit The Others with his upcoming release, Regression. Starring Emma Watson and Academy Award nominee Ethan Hawke, this psychological thriller looks set to unnerve its audiences with chilling narrative rather than all-out horror – according to the latest trailer for the film.
Tackling a disturbing subject, the multiple award winning Amenabar weaves a tale that breathes the spectre of mistrust, betrayal and horror into the closest of relationships and the supposed safety of the home – as detailed in the official synopsis.
“Minnesota, 1990. Detective Bruce Kenner (Ethan Hawke) investigates the case of young Angela (Emma Watson), who accuses her father, John Gray (David Dencik), of an unspeakable crime. When John unexpectedly and without recollection admits guilt, renowned psychologist Dr Raines (David Thewlis) is brought in to help him relive his memories, and what they discover unmasks a horrifying nationwide mystery.”
The trailer showcases some deeply atmospheric filmmaking, and suggests that Amenabar has produced a movie that effectively builds the tension as the wider context of the story unfolds. The casting of David Thewlis (The Fifth Estate) adds an intriguing dimension, as this fascinating actor can always be relied upon to make the most instinctive of choices – while the wider supporting cast also looks to be doing solid work.
It is the combination of Ethan Hawke and Emma Watson that is of the greatest interest here, however. In recent years, Watson has been striving to create performances that distance her from her Harry Potter alter ego, Hermione – and has so far had mixed success in doing so. Hawke, on the other hand has always made unpredictable film choices – turning in reliably strong performances, and often surpassing expectations. Strangely, this trailer leaves the viewer with the sense that we may be about to see Watson swim out of her depth, while Hawke works hard to anchor the piece with a firm grounding that threatens to spin out of control.
Regression is released on August 28th, 2015 – a month in which it will provide a viable alternative to genre fare, such as The Fantastic Four, The Man From U.N.C.L.E, Z For Zachariah and American Ultra. On the strength of this new trailer, it would be wise to anticipate lining up for tickets.
