Dutch Cinema Chain Pathé Tests Hypnosis to Erase Movie Memories for Re-Screenings
Dutch cinema chain Pathé is launching an unusual experiment to let thirty participants try erasing movie memories through hypnosis to rewatch iconic films like The Matrix and Se7en for the first time.
Have you ever wished you could erase a beloved movie from your memory just to experience the thrill of watching it for the very first time again? Dutch cinema chain Pathé is turning this cinematic fantasy into reality with an unconventional experiment named Pathé REWIND, scheduled for November 9 at the Pathé Buitenhof cinema in The Hague.
The Hypnotic Experiment
For this unique project, thirty participants will undergo hypnosis in an attempt to wipe away the plot details of one of four iconic films: "The Matrix", "Se7en", "Interstellar", or "La La Land". According to the organizers, participants will first undergo an online individual hypnotherapy session with Victor Cramer, a practitioner with over thirty years of experience, followed by a final preparation session right before the screening.
The core ambition of the experiment is to recreate the initial wave of excitement, tension, and shock that defines a premiere screening. Whether it is reliving the reality-bending twists of "The Matrix", navigating the cosmic mysteries of "Interstellar", or bracing once again for the haunting climax of "Se7en", the project aims to bypass the burden of prior knowledge.
Scientific Skepticism
Despite the imaginative premise, experts point out a major flaw: there is no scientific proof that hypnosis can reliably delete specific memories of an entire film. Hypnosis can alter how a person perceives or accesses memories, but it falls short of actually erasing data from the human brain. The organizers themselves do not guarantee success, framing the event as a playful marketing stunt rather than a controlled scientific study.
If the experiment fails, participants will simply walk away having rewatched a cherished classic with a memorable hypnosis anecdote to share. After all, even if the ending refuses to be forgotten, revisiting a masterpiece on the big screen is rarely a disappointment.
