"A Trick of the Mind" (a.k.a., "Mind Games") is a successful thriller with a well-developed set of characters. On the receiving end of the mind games is the central character of Jamie, who is ridden by guilt after an argument with her parents culminated in an auto crash that takes the lives of both the mother and father.

As Jamie undergoes the long process of recovery, she inherits the family's multi-million-dollar real estate business and meets her dream man, Michael, while working on a Habitat for Humanity project. Jamie's best friend, Serena, is suspicious of the quick marriage and has her antenna up for Michael. Then, a mysterious female private investigator appears on the scene and warns Jamie about Michael's shady past.

As Jamie becomes more confused and desperate, she winds up in mental asylum, where she is drugged by her clueless psychiatrist. Meanwhile, the real estate business is taken over by her husband. Jamie would appear to have only one ally, the mild-mannered attorney named Josh.

The filmmakers were successful in stringing the audience along for nearly three-quarters of the film without revealing the truth of what is happening to poor Jamie. There was excellent tension built, leading to Jamie's daring escape from the nut house, followed by a whirlwind visit to Michael's high school reunion. It is there that Jamie digs up the dirt from a number of tipsy women. She then pays a visit to Michael's dear old mother where she learns he clincher about her dear husband.

The character developments were superb. Michael was a genuine charmer. The private investigator, Helen Delaney, was a smooth and polished pro. Jamie's bestie, Serena, was a character rife with ambiguity. The psychiatrist, Dr. Hauser, was a formidable pill pusher. And Jamie herself was a thoroughly engaging character study who was either a fragile Blanche du Bois or a victim of a diabolical gigolo. The film adds up to an carefully crafted and entertaining journey into the deepest caverns of the human mind.

I figured out the "mystery" in the first ten minutes! All I saw was a modern version, tweaked with new plot.. version of Gaslight ('44) {OK, that might be a stretch but that's what *I* saw} The whole movie I keep trying to find SOMETHING to surprise me into not believing what I thought... but in the end, it was disappointing that what I thought.. was true. The acting... was OK, but the love story was a reach to see. I'm not up on commenting on acting... just the movie as a whole. The only surprise I saw, was how and who she actually got help from. That's the only part that kept me guessing and questioning myself as to how elaborate the plan/plot was. The movie might have done a bit better to lengthen the romance or not spread other concepts out so thin, or maybe not include so many extra details. I guess the wonderful misdirection of Sixth Sense has spoiled me. I give it only a ***1/2 because it was predictable. If you didn't see Gaslight.. I guess you'll enjoy it. I preferred the drama towards the end of the movie. Enjoy.