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6.5/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The Mind Reader remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like old-school con man movies where nobody is actually a good person, you’ll probably have a decent time with The Mind Reader. It’s short, it moves, and Warren William is doing that thing where he plays a scumbag with a grin that makes you almost forgive him. If you need your leads to be noble or you’re allergic to 1930s dialogue, maybe skip it.
The whole movie hinges on this fake clairvoyance act. Watching them set up the stage with wires and hidden helpers is honestly the best part. It’s got that grimy, backstage energy that feels more real than the actual romance.
Warren William is great, but the way he pivots from "coldhearted swindler" to "guy who feels bad about stuff" happens pretty fast. Like, really fast. One minute he’s fleecing a widow, the next he’s sweating over his life choices. It’s a bit jarring, but in that way old movies are.
The pacing is all over the place. Sometimes it feels like a stage play that got locked in a room, and then suddenly we’re in a melodrama about fate. I found myself wondering if they just ran out of film stock or if someone decided to rewrite the third act on a lunch break.
There’s a scene where he’s trying to woo Sylvia, and you can just feel the movie trying to convince you he’s a changed man. It’s a hard sell. I didn't really buy it, but I enjoyed watching him try to act like a normal person.
It’s not a masterpiece. It’s just a solid, slightly cynical hour and change. Sometimes that’s exactly what you need on a Tuesday night. Just don't expect it to change your life or anything. 🔮