By Halina Rosa
In his cinematic trilogy Truth or Dare, Swedish filmmaker Jayce Landberg takes us on a journey through time, space, and the human psyche. His story of love, death, and rebirth is not only a poetic fantasy — it is a deeply symbolic exploration of the soul, echoing the principles of Carl Gustav Jung’s analytical psychology.
At the heart of the trilogy lies the timeless relationship between The White Moon Drake (played by Jayce Landberg) and Hope (portrayed by Ukrainian actress and model Anna Osadcha). Their bond transcends mortality — an eternal dance between light and shadow, life and death, matter and spirit.
Hope, an oriental genie capable of bringing her beloved back to life, embodies the Anima archetype — the inner feminine guiding a man toward spiritual awakening and wholeness. Drake, traveling through centuries in search of his lost love, represents the Archetype of the Wanderer, the hero undergoing individuation — the Jungian process of integrating the conscious and unconscious aspects of the Self. Each time he dies and is reborn in a new era, he symbolically sheds one layer of ego and moves closer to inner transformation.
Landberg masterfully juxtaposes light and darkness, heaven and hell, love and jealousy. These contrasts evoke Jung’s concept of confronting the Shadow — the hidden, unacknowledged aspects of our personality.
The evil forces pursuing the protagonist through time are not merely external demons; they are reflections of his inner conflict, his shadow self. Hope, as a luminous being, serves not only as a lover but as a spiritual guide. Her final act of sacrifice becomes a metaphor for transcendence — the reconciliation of opposites, the fusion of spirit and matter, feminine and masculine, consciousness and the unconscious.
The trilogy’s three distinct eras — the 18th century, the 1950s, and the present day — form a symbolic cycle of transformation. Much like Jung’s mandala, time in Landberg’s universe is circular rather than linear. Each historical setting represents a stage in the hero’s psychological evolution: romantic idealism, emotional turmoil, and finally, enlightenment.
Landberg suggests that love is eternal, not because it lasts in time, but because it transcends time. In Jungian terms, it is the soul’s striving for unity — the timeless movement toward the Self, the archetype of wholeness.
Beyond its aesthetic beauty, Truth or Dare functions as a psychological mirror. It invites viewers to look inward — to confront their own desires, fears, and unconscious longings. Landberg’s storytelling resonates with Jung’s belief that art is a form of self-knowledge, a language of the unconscious expressed through symbol and myth.
The film’s haunting soundtrack — composed by Landberg and featuring Göran Edman (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen, John Norum) and Erika — amplifies this introspective journey. Each musical phrase feels like a passage through the dream world of the psyche.
Ultimately, Truth or Dare is not only a love story; it is a psychological allegory of spiritual transformation. Hope and Drake are two lovers, but they are also two aspects of a single soul — feminine and masculine, light and shadow, spirit and flesh. Their story ends not in death, but in integration — the realization of what Jung called the Self, the totality of human consciousness.
Jayce Landberg, like an artistic alchemist, merges myth, music, and emotion into a cinematic vision that transcends genre. His trilogy can be read as both a romantic fable and a Jungian meditation on healing the soul through love.
Jayce Landberg – “Truth or Dare” Trilogy
- Never Love Again (Part I)
- Jealousy (Part II)
- Don’t Believe (Part III)
Streaming: Prime Video (USA & UK)
Music by Jayce Landberg, featuring Göran Edman and Erika
About Jayce Landberg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jayce_Landberg
Jayce Landberg, also known as Erik Jayce Landberg, is a Swedish multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, novelist, photographer, actor, and film director. Born in Switzerland and raised between Stockholm and the Swedish countryside, Landberg discovered his passion for art and poetry early in life before dedicating himself to music. He studied at Uppsala University and Stockholm University, earning a Master of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws degree.
Landberg is best known as a guitar virtuoso and songwriter, collaborating with renowned artists such as Göran Edman (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen, John Norum) and Erika. His solo career includes albums like Break the Spell (2008), Good Sleepless Night (2010), and The Forbidden World (2020), as well as innovative projects such as an electric guitar orchestration of Ravel’s Boléro. Beyond music, Landberg has expanded into filmmaking. He is the creator of the Truth or Dare trilogy, a cinematic series based on his album, The Forbidden World, which blends romance, mystery, and psychological drama.
The first two parts, Never Love Again and Jealousy, were released on Prime Video and recognized at international film festivals, while the final installment is in post-production. Landberg’s artistic vision spans multiple disciplines, merging music, visual storytelling, and mythological and psychological themes. He is celebrated for his innovative approach to art, his virtuosity on the guitar, and his ability to craft emotionally and symbolically rich narratives that resonate with audiences worldwide.
08.10.2025 Stockholm
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