DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE WE GO // A FILM REVIEW OF "SYNCHRONIC"
It should come as no surprise that it would be the filmmaking team of Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, who have been behind such original gems as The Endless, would be the ones behind the brainy puzzle fest SYNCHRONIC, which is one of the most wonderfully smart and original Sci-Fi's to come around in some time. This gem of a film starts with a moody, slow burn pace following two paramedic best friends: Steve (Anthony Mackie) and Dennis (Jamie Dornan). Both are good at their jobs (even though Steve often show up to work hung over) but both of their lives are a mess. Steve is popping pills all day and, as we come to find out, is currently having quite a medical scare (though he keeps it to himself). Dennis is in a standstill within his everyday life: he and his wife don't know how to communicate, using their teenage daughter as the thing that keeps them together. They share dark ambulance rides, watching a good amount of locals overdose or die while they stress about how their lives don't seem to be going anywhere.
Strange things are happening to the locals. As they arrive to calls of overdoses and drug cases, Steve notices the same package near the bodies: "Synchronic." It may be the key to connecting all of the cases. Also odd are the way people are dying. One man has been stabbed by a sword, another falls down an elevator shaft. One young woman is bit by a deadly snake in an area where there are no snakes. As the strangeness continues to escalate, both men are dragged into this strange unknown world as Dennis becomes more lost and Steve starts putting the puzzle pieces together. I'm purposely being very vague, because one of the the most fun things about SYNCHRONIC is not knowing where it's going. My advice is that you don't read too many reviews before seeing it (except for this one, of course). Not having any spoilers going in will make the ride a lot more fun. And I assure you that once the sci-fi strangeness kicks in (which is heavily peaked at in the prologue of the film) you'll find yourself in a beautifully strange story that earns each of its twists and turns.
The more meaty role is definitely in Anthony Mackie's hands. Jamie Dornan's role is more subdued and he does fine work. But Mackie walks away with the film, acting as the true eye into the weirdness and powerfully playing a broken man with a tragic past. As he runs "tests" to try and figure out what he's seeing happen before him, he gets dragged father and father into the madness, where one false move will be his last. Benson and Moorhead bring a film that feels just as inspired by a film like the Nicolas Cage film Bringing Out the Dead as it does Christopher Nolan leaps into smart fantasy. The tone shifts expertly, from a dark drama to horror to sci-fi adventure. It's a really fun ride, a smart film that doesn't make you feel dumb watching it but instead rewards you by telling a cliche free tale into the unknown. Take a does of SYNCHRONIC. It's a hell of a trip.
GRADE: A-
WRITTEN BY Justin Benson DIRECTED BY Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead STARRING Anthony Mackie, Jamie Dornan, Katie Aselton, Ally Ioannides. Now playing at select theatres and Drive-Ins. For more information: https://www.wellgousa.com/films/synchronic