Movie Review: ‘Trauma Therapy: Psychosis’ – The Fight For Mental Clarity.

Directed by Gary Barth, Trauma Therapy: Psychosis is a sequel to Trauma Therapy. Written by David Josh Lawrence and Tom Malloy both of whom also take on roles in this film.

This sequel attempts to build on the foundation of its first instalment while offering a self-contained narrative that viewers can judge on its own merits.

Having not seen or heard about the first instalment before diving into this one, I found myself relieved by how much this sequel feels like a standalone piece. While it seems to pick up not too far from where the previous story ended, the film’s synopsis alone provides enough context to fill you in on the necessary details.

At its core, Trauma Therapy: Psychosis tells the story of a group of lost souls who enrol in an intense self-help retreat led by the infamous guru Tobin Vance. Set against the isolated, haunting backdrop of Kirkcaldy, Scotland, this extreme retreat complete with lie detectors, firearms, and experimental drugs pushes the group to their psychological and physical limits. What starts as a bid for personal growth soon spirals into a fight for survival as participants begin to question both the program’s methods and their chances of making it out alive.

Tobin Vance (played by Tom Malloy), is introduced as a self-help guru with a dark past. Exiled overseas after falling on the radar of the feds in the United States, he relocates his operations to the remote outskirts of Kirkcaldy. Together with his assistant Elizabeth (played by Hannah New) by his side, Vance recruits five individuals to participate in his life-changing program. They must endure a gruelling retreat that forces them to confront their deepest fears and traumas or be forced the hefty $70,000 penalty if they opt out early.

The group of recruits comes from varied backgrounds, each burdened by psychological struggles ranging from depression to anxiety to unresolved past traumas. While the narrative doesn’t delve deeply into their backstories, brief interactions and pointed commentary from Tobin Vance himself provide enough hints to understand their motivations. Their eagerness to embrace the program’s harsh demands, despite their reservations, underscores a shared desperation for change.

It’s not exactly clear what Tobin’s motivation is but you get the sense that he is an evil vile man with no sincere agenda to help people.

The retreat quickly becomes a psychological battleground, with participants subjected to extreme challenges that blur the line between therapy and torment. Adding complexity to the narrative is John (played by David Josh Lawrence), a former student of Vance who joins the group partway through. While initially appearing as a plant to further Vance’s agenda, John’s motivations remain ambiguous, injecting an additional layer of intrigue.

Performance-wise, ‘Trauma Therapy: Psychosis‘ delivers mixed results. Tom Malloy’s portrayal of Tobin Vance stands out as the strongest, his callousness and manipulative charisma making him a compelling antagonist. Given his role as one of the film’s writers, he clearly understands the character’s intent, translating that understanding into a chilling performance. I can say the same for David Josh Lawrence since he also shares in the writer’s credits. However, he doesn’t quite reach the same level of impact with his performance.

Unfortunately, the other actors, particularly those playing the group of recruits, struggle to bring depth to their characters. Their performances often feel uncertain, as though they’re unsure how to fully inhabit the personas they’ve been tasked with portraying.

The late Tom Sizemore makes a cameo appearance as a podcast host interviewing a former associate of Tobin Vance. It is not entirely clear how much this addition contributes to the film. But your guess is as good as mine, that Tom Sizemore is used as merely bait to draw more people into seeing this film, especially considering that he is the biggest and most recognisable name on it.

From a production standpoint, ‘Trauma Therapy: Psychosis‘ is serviceable. The film’s primary setting is a remote, abandoned mental institution or barnhouse which effectively establishes a cold, sinister atmosphere. The colour palette reinforces this tone, lending a sense of unease that permeates the story.

The editing and cinematography are noteworthy in places, particularly during sequences that aim to capture the participants’ psychological states. Through jarring cuts and distorted perspectives, the film successfully immerses viewers in the characters’ mental torment.

However, at just 1 hour and 22 minutes, the film feels simultaneously aimless and slow. Despite average runtime, the narrative doesn’t gain much momentum, leaving viewers waiting for a sense of resolution that never quite materializes.

Even though it is marketed as a horror, ‘Trauma Therapy: Psychosis‘ leans more heavily into psychological thriller territory. It lacks the scares one might expect from the genre, focusing instead on the psychological manipulation and ethical boundaries crossed in the name of self-improvement.

Thematically, the film underscores the idea that true healing comes from within. It’s a film that sparks reflection on the lengths people will go to for the promise of personal growth. However, its execution leaves much to be desired.

If anything, this film serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of blind trust in so-called “gurus.” It reminds viewers that the fight for clarity of mind begins and ends with you. Through the efforts you make and the choices you make. You either commit to improving or accept being stuck in the cycle. Either way, the truth remains: no one can help you better than you can help yourself.

I will score this film 5/10. If you are looking for something to while away time this could be it but don’t go into it with very high expectations at all.