PIC of the Week – Synchronic
Article Series by Ray Schillaci
SOME SPOILERS PRECEDED IN BOLD – jump to the next paragraph
Well Go USA has two of the best science fiction films released to the home video market, Possessor Uncut and Synchronic, one of the trippiest time travel movies to be released to the large and small screen. Anthony Mackie, best known for his roll as Falcon in the Marvel franchise, finally steps to the forefront with his charm and dramatic ability in this slow-burn mystery that keeps us guessing all the way to the end.
It appears that the romances are the most popular kind of time travel movie: the franchise of Back to the Future and Terminator, Somewhere in Time, About Time, and Time After Time, to name a few. But the ones I find most interesting are those that tax the mind: Slaughter-House Five, Timecrimes, Donnie Darko, Predestination and now Synchronic. The team of writer/director Justin Benson and writer Aaron Moorhead who brought us the well-received The Endless and cult favorite Spring deliver a film that echoes H.G. Wells and H.P. Lovecraft delivering a fascinating take on time travel, the human condition, and the danger of designer drugs.
Two New Orleans paramedics, Steve & Dennis, portrayed by Mackie and Jamie Dornan (The Fall, A Private War), come upon several grisly deaths and O.D. victims all with an empty packet of a designer drug, Synchronic. The mystery gets more complicated when Steve happens upon artifacts at every scene: a gold doubloon, an antique doorknob, an ancient sword. Complicating matters, Dennis is having troubles with his marriage and Steve, the wily ladies man, discovers he has weeks to live with an aggressive brain tumor attached to his pineal gland.
A little background for those not familiar with Lovecraft, the pineal gland figured prominently in his story From Beyond. The gland was dubbed “the third eye” by the late 19th century Madame Blavatsky, founder of theosophy. She named it so due to its location deep in the center of the brain and its connection to light. Mystics, shamans and such propose that the gland serves as a metaphysical connection between physical and spiritual worlds. This is what makes Benson and Moorhead’s film so damn interesting.
Steve runs out and purchases all the drugs left to prevent anymore deaths. Eventually, he connects the dots between the deaths and O.D.s with the help of the doctor that designed the drug and discovers that the substance contributes fatalities to younger people whose pineal gland has not matured. Somehow, the drug stimulates the immature gland and gives them the ability to cross through time.
***SPOILER*** Unfortunately, Steve and Dennis are called out on another O.D. only to discover that Dennis’ teen daughter is missing. Dennis goes into an emotional tailspin and Steve keeps his condition a secret so as not to burden his friend. Steve surmises that he is the only one that can find Dennis’ daughter since his pineal gland has never matured due to the tumor and he sets out on an experimental quest.
For an indie film, the picture has some remarkable visuals. The effects never overpower the story itself. Black levels and shadow detail is near excellent. The film tends to be on the dark side, but there is no problem with clarity. Only a couple of times does the presence of a green screen stand out and it happens so quickly that it does not hamper the viewing pleasure.
The DTS HD Master Audio 5.1 surround is impressive. The nice part is dialogue is never sacrificed during dynamic sound effects. This immersive track plunges us right into all of the worlds Steve ends up visiting.
Bonus features are a concise thirty minutes or so including a very funny mock alternate ending. With all the enthusiasm portrayed by the filmmakers it’s sad that we didn’t receive more on their film. But, what we do get is…
• Audio Commentary with Directors & Producer
• Making Of
• Previsualization
• VFX Breakdown
• Deleted Scenes
• Alternate Ending
• Trailers
Benson and Moorhead deliver a powerful film that is truly unique in its storytelling. A brave melancholy tale that takes us on several journeys that are exciting, frightening and riveting. Tapping Anthony Mackie as the lead is a big plus for this film making Synchronic a must-see.
Lowest Price – $14.96 – Amazon
Visit Ray’s blog at themonsterinmyhead.com
