# Pathé Launches Hypnosis Experiment to Reset Film Viewing Memories Dutch cinema chain tests if hypnosis can help viewers experience movies as if new. - **Source:** [Science & tech Articles | Mail Online](https://www.dailymail.com?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490) - **Published:** 2026-11-03 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/97cd3d7f-83a0-495f-a80e-0997aceba971 ## The REWIND Project Initiative Dutch cinema chain Pathé is launching an experimental project called REWIND in The Hague. The initiative aims to determine if thirty volunteers can temporarily forget the plot twists of their favorite films. By utilizing hypnosis, organizers hope to restore the sense of wonder and surprise typically lost during repeat viewings of classic movies. ## Selection of Cinematic Classics The experiment focuses on films known for significant plot revelations or iconic scenes. Potential candidates for the screening include The Matrix, Se7en, La La Land, and Interstellar. Organizers believe that once viewers know the outcome, such as the famous reveal in Se7en, the emotional impact of the cinematic experience is permanently diminished for them. ## Hypnosis and Therapeutic Methodology Participants will undergo online sessions with hypnotherapist Victor Kraemer, who brings over thirty years of professional experience. Kraemer employs a combination of clinical hypnosis, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, and Ericksonian hypnotherapy. These techniques rely on suggestion, storytelling, and focused attention to alter how individuals process memories and respond to their internal experiences during the trial. ## The Role of NLP Techniques Neuro-Linguistic Programming is utilized to modify how subjects think about their existing memories and emotional responses. By integrating language and visualization, the method attempts to shift the participant's conscious awareness. Kraemer also incorporates body-focused therapy and parts therapy to explore how different aspects of personality influence decision-making and emotional reactions to film. ## Operational Execution of Trials The process involves two distinct stages for the thirty volunteers. First, they complete preparatory online hypnosis sessions to build receptivity. Shortly before the actual cinema screening, they undergo a second hypnosis session on-site. This dual-phase approach is designed to maximize the likelihood of suppressing prior knowledge before the film begins playing. ## Scientific and Exploratory Limitations Pathé explicitly states that this trial is purely exploratory in nature. There is no guarantee that participants will successfully forget the films or relive their original viewing sensations. The organizers acknowledge that the experiment seeks to answer whether hypnosis can effectively remove prior knowledge from conscious awareness during a specific, controlled cinematic event. ## Expert Skepticism Regarding Memory While hypnosis is widely applied in various therapeutic settings, the scientific community remains divided on these specific claims. There is currently limited empirical evidence suggesting that hypnosis can reliably suppress specific memories of a film. Experts caution that the ability to recreate the exact experience of a first-time viewing remains a highly speculative psychological goal. ## Future of Experiential Cinema This project highlights a growing interest in enhancing audience engagement through unconventional psychological methods. By testing the boundaries of memory and perception, Pathé explores how cinema chains might offer unique experiences in a competitive market. The results of the REWIND project will provide insights into the intersection of entertainment, psychology, and human memory. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.dailymail.com/sciencetech/article-16261877/watch-favourite-film-time-Scientists-hypnotise.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._