Skip to main content

The Guardian Angel aka Murderous Trance

The Guardian Angel – Suojelusenkeli

2018  |  Fiction  |  103 min

The Guardian Angel is a psychological thriller about the astonishing hypnosis murders that took place in Denmark in the 1950s. Criminal investigator Anders Olsen (Pilou Asbæk) begins to solve a case in which a bank robber shoots two bank clerks and runs into the streets of Copenhagen with the money. When arrested, he claims to have committed the crime alone. Some eyewitnesses say the robber seemed to have been in a trance, which makes the case even more complicated and peculiar. 

Olsen finds out that the accused has been in prison with the charismatic Björn Schow Nielsen (Josh Lucas) and begins to suspect that Nielsen had hypnotized his fellow inmate to commit the crime for him. But could it be possible – and if so, how can the true perpetrator be caught? Olsen seeks help from a well-known psychiatrist specialized in hypnosis (Rade Šerbedžija), with whom Olsen delves deeper into the world of mental manipulation. 

Absorbed in the criminal investigation, Olsen does not realize that the mysterious Nielsen has secretly befriended his young wife (Sara Soulié). Soon the mysterious case touches him closer than he could have imagined. 

The new movie from director Arto Halonen (i.a. Princess, A Patriotic Man) is a psychological thriller based on an intriguing true story where the themes lead us to reflect on the influence of mind control in the present day: what can manipulation do and how far can it be taken? 

The film features in lead roles the internationally acclaimed actors Pilou Asbæk (Game Of Thrones), Josh Lucas (Beautiful Mind, Sweet Home Alabama), Rade Šerbedžija (including Downton Abbey, Eyes Wide Shut), and Sara Soulié (Nymphs, Other Girls ). 

Murderous Trance aka The Guardian Angel
Murderous Trance aka The Guardian Angel

    Trailer

    Crew

    Director & Writer: Arto Halonen

    Director of Photography: Pini Hellstedt

    Editor: Jussi Rautaniemi

    Production Designer: Søren Schwarzberg

    Make-Up Artist: Tina Jesenkovic

    Sound Designer: Kirka Sainio

    Composer: Tuomas Kantelinen

    Costume Designers: Louize Nissen, Ana Toto

    Producers: Arto Halonen, Igor A.Nola and Timo Lahtinen

    Production: Art Films production, Smile Entertainment and MP Film Production