Past Life – DIGITAL DOWNLOAD

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A mysterious Past Life….

We’ve always been skeptical of stage hypnotists who claim to help people remember past lives. We’re even more doubtful when people undergoing this ‘regression’ conveniently end up recalling lives as kings, queens, or celebrities. It’s strange that no one ever seems to remember being someone with an ordinary or unpleasant job, like a sanitation worker, a scientist working with dangerous materials, or someone involved in animal experimentation.

The thriller Past Life centers around Jason, a journalist from Manchester (played by Aneurin Barnard), who is deeply affected by witnessing a murder by jihadists in Syria. It’s baffling why he’d then agree to be hypnotized on live television by Timothy Bevan (Jeremy Piven) – it’s a similarly questionable decision as, say, a royal encouraging children to play a risky game at a birthday party.

Past Life, Past mystery

The experience is deeply upsetting for Jason, forcing him to relive a horrifying memory of seemingly stabbing a woman – a moment considered one of the most disturbing ever shown on television. Things take an even more troubling turn when Jason’s pregnant wife, Claira, convinces him to undergo another regression session with Bevan, hoping to permanently suppress the traumatic memory. This decision seems risky, and it’s clear trouble is brewing.

Regress to a rampage?

Instead of simply recalling the past, the journalist and hypnotist use recovered memories to hunt down the serial killer responsible for the man’s trauma. The film uses unsettling, first-person perspectives, accompanied by mournful blues music, to create a genuinely creepy atmosphere. During their investigation, they team up with true crime podcaster Elliot Read (Nicholas Farrell) and encounter a psychology lecturer played by Tim McInnerny.

The investigation into the serial killer’s identity and motives becomes increasingly unclear, and the plot relies on unlikely coincidences and forced events, especially in the final act. The film also uses flashbacks to explain things we already understand, which feels like unnecessary filler.

I found Past Life to be a pretty enjoyable thriller, largely thanks to the performances from Jeremy Piven and Colin Farrell. Even the smaller moments with Iain McInnerny were memorable. The movie keeps you guessing right up until the very end with a clever use of misleading clues, which I always appreciate.

We chatted to Nicholas Farrell about the film and what went on behind the scenes…

Here’s the trailer….

Past Life  is released on digital on 6th April 2026 courtesy of Miracle Media

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2026-04-04 02:23