The Machinist

Film Summary
Trevor Reznik is a lathe-operator who suffers from insomnia and hasn't slept in a year. Slowly, he begins to doubt his sanity as increasingly bizarre things start happening at work and at home. Haunted by a deformed co-worker who no one seems to think exists, and an ongoing stream of indecipherable Post-It notes he keeps finding on his fridge, he attempts to investigate what appears to be a mysterious plot against him and, in the process, embroils two women in his madness.




Film Analysis
Insomnia - The insomnia helps to emphasis the ending where Trevor is eventually able to sleep and has over come the guilt of the superego by conforming to societies rules. but also shows how the guilt is causing Trevor's life to be drastically effected and like the weight loss, how the subconscious is punishing Trevor.

Hallucinations - The guilt caused insomnia brings on hallucinations (of Maria and Nicholas; the game of hangman; Ivan), that at first seem to have no connection or purpose, but as the film unravels, all the pieces are put together. The hallucinations resemble the structure of a dream where direct information from the id  is disguised (like when Ivan says to Trevor a storm is coming, meaning metaphorically an internal storm is coming) so that the superego doesn't become disgusted with the id's desires and drive (hiding the fact that he killed somebody). The dream like structure is ironic considering that the character of Trevor has not slept in over a year.

Ivan - the character Ivan represents Trevor's id trying to escape and control Trevor's life. The fact that nobody else can see Ivan shows how the desires and drives of the id are specific to Trevor and will vary from person to person. Ivan represents what Trevor used to be; confident, free spirited man, of a weight. the two characters, Trevor and Ivan, are physically and mentally opposite, thus representing the opposite id and superego.

Weight Lose - Trevor's weight lose is his unconscious superego punishing him for being involved in a hit and run and following his ids instinct to flee from the sense. The weight loss shows physically how the guilt is eating away at Trevor.

Film Title, Job and OCD - the title of the film and Trevor's job are ironic, in the sense that they represent a well oil, and smooth running process, where as Trevor's life is far from this. the job helps to emphasis the chaos, and down fall of Trevor's life and mental state. This is also seen by how Trevor tries to install order to his life with routines and traits of OCD's - continuously weighting himself and leaving notes.
All of this order among chaos can be seen as Trevor's superego trying find order and conform to societies ways; trying to over come the id's animal instincts of killing (the accidental murder of the young boy). The fact the the notes Trevor use to help bring order to his life become apart of his hallucinations and the 'conspiracy' against him, helps to show how gradually throughout the film Trevor's mental state is overridden  by the guilt, conjured by the superego not being able to follow societies rules - of not killing.

Prostitute - the character of Stevie shows to the audience that even though Trevor if going through a traumatic time and his guilt is clearly taking over, due to his superego, not all of his id desires can be over ruled. Stevie shows that the natural animal instinct of sex, created by the id, will always be there.

The Ending - Trevor is finally able to sleep when he confesses to the police that he was involved in a hit and run. the fact that he if able to sleep at the end shows that not the superego has been satisfied  by finally obeying the rules put in place by society.