Mind Thief

I got to see this film at the Ojai film festival. I thought the story was engrossing and the mystery element kept me guessing. Mind Thief is the ultimate thriller that, true to its title, keeps your mind captive to its plot. Supported by a strong cast, the lead actress is captivating as an acrobatic author afflicted by writer's block. You really feel like you're in her shoes. It's a very compelling sci-fi thriller with dark comedy elements. It delves into themes of psychology about systems of control, both mentally and physically. This gets broken up by moments of humour, providing rich entertainment value.

First the movie poster, a creative, but weird, cartoon, gave no clue as to what movie was about. I had never seen Angelique Pristorious before, and at first thought the lead actress was Mischa Barton. But wow, Angelique was great. And saw afterward that Angeliqu also wrote the movie. Her humor made the character a combination of air-head, but with common sense. A unique combination. Also Angelique was great at the physical comedy/stunts. And Angelique is H-O-T. Yes, suspend disbelief, but was fun not knowing who was good or bad. This movie is ripe for a sequel. As most of the characters, both good and bad survive.

Most of the actors were new to me. Which also lead to some suspense.

Novelist Christine Wilde is struggling with her latest book. Unable to write she starts to notice strange things going on around her. People are acting strangely and she feels compelled to get to the bottom of it. In the process she uncovers a plot, involving mind control experiments, which put her in danger of being killed or becoming a killer!

I thought this was rather fun. It probably helped that I had no real idea what to expect. Early on a light tone is set with comic moments; the way our protagonist writes while hanging upside-down from the ceiling tells us this isn't going to be too serious. Once the mystery starts it is intriguing and far from obvious what is going on... has she discovered a conspiracy, is she imagining things or is it something else altogether? The cast, led by Angelique Pretorius as Christine do a solid job, keeping the balance of humour and drama just the right side of being silly. While there are some moments of violence they aren't too disturbing, in fact some are done in a way more likely to elicit laughs than shock. Overall I thought this was a decent film; not a must watch but I thought it passed the time well enough.

I saw this in theaters during a premiere and wow!! I didn't know what to expect but I was blown away. This film keeps you guessing at every turn. The cinematography is impressive, the writing impeccable, it's just so well done. What I love is that you think you understand what's going on, until something new gets thrown into the mix.

Mind Thief is extremely unique and special and you have to enjoy being confused to love this film. Part of the charm is how quirky the characters are!

I love a film that makes me laugh, and cringe, and go "huh??" overall it's a fun and mind bending film so if you're looking for a new favorite, try Mind Theif!

I just love this film. It's filled with joy, suspense, surprises and a quirky sense of humor. And it's incredibly well crafted! The writing holds up, the directorial choices are great and the entire cast delivers excellent performances. Angelique Pretorius who plays the lead keeps you glued to the screen with her great comedic timing and expressions that resonate with a depth and authenticity that is rare and special. She has classic movie star charisma. The story is a whimsical, psychological mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat to find out what happens next - its tone brings to mind an edgier Amelie. And the ending delivers a cool twist worth waiting for. This is the kind of film that makes you remember why you love movies.