Tuesday, 26 January 2021

Synchronic (2020)

Synchronic is the biggest film for filmmakers Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead after making a name for themselves with the indie hit The Endless, a fascinating and mind bending exploration of cults and the unknown questions we all ask ourselves. Synchronic also promised to play with our expectations but with bigger stars, however it always feels like it's just not getting there. Never that fascinating, never quite entertaining enough, never really that mysterious, Synchronic falls a bit on the boring side. There are a lot of pieces here which felt full of possibility but never the moments that delivered.

As two paramedics find more and more patients with "weird" symptoms from apparent drug overdoses, they stumble into something far more bizarre than they were expecting. But the tricks here never feel organic enough to make that promising premise payoff. Some dubious special effects and a rather pat and disappointingly simple explanation make Synchronic an overall let down. As the pieces all came together, I couldn't maintain interest in what ended up being a very linear plot and an unrealistic play with "time travel."
 
It all makes you long for a Christopher Nolan film.

So while I remain curious to see what this film making duo can do next (I hear Marvel has recruited them) I am a bit concerned. Still one misstep doesn't mean they don't have another story in them to wow us.

Synchronic
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Jamie Dornan
Directors: Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead
Writer: Justin Benson

 

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