Svengali

A talented but shy musician named Dixie struggles with crippling stage fright and self-doubt, hindering his dreams of rock stardom. He finds an unlikely mentor in the enigmatic Rhys, a manipulative but charismatic figure who promises to help him overcome his fears and achieve fame. As Dixie's career begins to soar under Rhys's guidance, he becomes increasingly dependent on his mentor, blurring the lines between ambition and exploitation.

Svengali (2013) received a mixed to negative reception from critics. While some praised the performances, particularly Jody Latham's portrayal of the troubled musician, many found the plot predictable and derivative of earlier 'artist's rise and fall' narratives. The film struggled to find a significant audience and was largely overlooked.

• The film suffers from a familiar and uninspired storyline.

• Jody Latham delivers a commendable performance as the tormented protagonist.

• The character of Rhys is underdeveloped, making his manipulation less impactful.

Google audience: Audience reception for Svengali (2013) is not widely documented on Google, with limited available data suggesting a lukewarm reception.

The film's title is a reference to George du Maurier's 1894 novel 'Trilby', which features a manipulative artist named Svengali who controls the singing voice of a young woman.