Regression takes on the challenge of showing the Satanic Panic from the perspective of someone who takes part in the paranoia. This is an intriguing proposition, but it doesn’t quite work out. The film gets too deep in the trenches of genre, and ends up betraying its characters as it pursues more lurid content. Though put together pretty well, the choices that make up the heart of this picture never really feel very wise.
1990, in the small town of Hoyer, Minnesota. Auto mechanic John Gray is accused of abusing his daughter Angela (Emma Watson). Believing that his daughter would never lie, he admits to the crime despite not remembering doing it. Police detective Bruce Kenner (Ethan Hawke) is investigating the case. He recruits the aid of psychology professor Kenneth Raines (David Thewlis), who uses regressive hypnotic therapy to unlock John's memories. This leads them down a rabbit hole of satanic cults and rituals, the story becoming more elaborate and strange as they go from person to person.
The film opens with text explaining that basically announces that the story is about the Satanic Panic. It then goes on to claim that it is inspired by a true story. This is the absolute worst thing the film could have done. It makes it clear right from the very start that the story is following people who are on the wrong track. If one knows anything the Satanic Panic, then one already knows that these characters are on a wild goose chase. That the film tries to make this out to be some sort of sinister mystery is its next folly.
If this were just a drama about a town getting caught up in the paranoia of Satanic Ritual Abuse, that would be one thing. But it operates as if there is some of answer to be found in all this, despite the fact that the answers are already pretty plain. It's a really long way to go just to wait for people to fall flat on their face, realizing the errors they've made in judgment. Whatever point the film is trying to make gets kind of lost in the mishmash of dream sequences and lurid diversions. While there is some merit to the idea of going into the heads of those who fell for the panic, attempting to mine tension from what are clearly fantasies just doesn’t work out.
Having said all that, the film is mostly crafted competently. Its core choices may be suspect, but the nuts and bolts of how the film is put together is mostly okay. The acting is also pretty top notch. Ethan Hawke is really good at playing a character who is slowly falling apart, his well-intentioned obsessions leading him down all the wrong corners. David Thewlis lends a latent air of superiority to Raines, which feels pretty appropriate given what happens. Emma Watson acquits herself pretty well as the girl in the middle of all this mess.
Regression needed to be one thing or another. Its attempt to wade in the language of the supernatural thriller makes a lot of what happens feel silly. It either needed to take a more sober approach to its real life subject, or it could have dropped all pretense of being inspired by true events. The film, despite tackling some big issues, feels pretty irrelevant. In focusing so tightly on the Satanic Panic, the movie isn’t able to build themes that go beyond the specific events. It isn’t real enough to be important, and it isn’t fake enough to be fun. It’s caught in a cinematic purgatory, with no where else to go.
My Rating:
