Synchronicity, 2016.
Written and Directed by Jacob Gentry.
Starring Chad McKnight, Brianne Davis, AJ Bowen, Scott Poythress, and Michael Ironside.
SYNOPSIS:
A physicist who invents a time machine must travel back to the past to uncover the truth about his creation and the woman who is trying to steal it.
Synchronicity is a complex piece of entertainment that will undoubtedly become a cult classic, under-appreciated gem of the science fiction genre. Both written and directed by Jacob Gentry (also known for The Signal from Sundance 2007), the film’s most pleasant surprise is that it never once feels the obligation or necessity to indulge in the typical action you would expect time travel shenanigans to jump the shark into; it instead trusts its characters and their desires to be enough to sustain interest in what is again, a rather mind-bending experience. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself exchanging thoughts on forums or re-watching Synchronicity multiple times to fully gain a working knowledge of its clever intricacies.
To give you a very brief outline of what the movie is about, Synchronicity essentially involves a physicist who has seemingly figured out time travel, and must find out the correlation between a rare dahlia and a mysterious woman that have emerged on his side. Trust me though, things get fairly complicated.
For starters, the script contains a whopping amount of ultra-scientific dialogue that will assuredly go over the heads of many viewers, just coming across as incredibly nerdy and a little bit too self-indulgent. It is at times somewhat off-putting, as it is hard to believe anyone would actually talk like this, regardless of their intelligence and dedication to cracking the secrets of time travel, but on some level you have to admire how smart it all is. Also, this isn’t like Primer and up its own ass; as technical as the jargon gets you will always be able to comprehend the gist of what is actually being explained or discussed.
The only other frustrating aspect with Synchronicity is that the protagonist essentially uses his time travel creation to pursue an attractive woman that we can never really connect to his romance for on an emotional level. Everything all happens too fast, leaving little room to accept that either of these people have fallen for each other. As mentioned, not everything is what it seems, but the general assessment stands that the love here just comes across as lustful puppy love.
However, after taking some time to decompress and un-fry my brain from putting together all of the pieces to the finished product, I came to the realization of what the film was going for in spite of its faults. Scientists by nature love playing God, and for better or worse, chasing after impossible dreams and scenarios, so the idea that its creator would use the power for his own personal gain and betterment doesn’t necessarily come across as out of character. Part of playing God is never accepting no for an answer. The proceedings are just an extension of a God-complex, although of someone with legitimately good intentions. It’s just a bit frustrating that the woman feels like a pawn in the situation,, and not necessarily a well-written character with defined traits.
With all that said, it also needs to be mentioned that the performances from everyone involved are rather solid, especially Brianne Davis who plays her role with just the right amount of mystery to keep you guessing as to what her true intentions are. Chad McKnight is also likable as the head physicist of the project, and successful at making you root for him getting the girl, although I’m still undecided on if using time travel to change the feelings of your alternate self and the girl you love is either the lamest thing ever or the coolest thing ever. Either way, Michael Ironside is also reliably here as the stereotypical evil corporate businessman standing in everyone’s way.
By far, the most awesome aspect of Synchronicity though is the retro vibe of the noir atmosphere. Not only is there a synthetic original soundtrack that feels ripped out of an 80s movie, but even the look of the film feels like a love letter to the science-fiction films of yesteryear. You can tell that Jacob Gentry is a fan of Blade Runner for example, but that doesn’t mean he’s copying that aesthetic 100%. Synchronicity is still its own thing, and generally just feels like a lost science-fiction film from the 80s. It is a little bit bothersome how darkly lit in blue every scene is, whether it be something outside or inside, but also not necessarily a deal-breaker. It’s mostly a dedication to a visual look that is a bit too extreme.
Like I said, the full package is often a rough ride with nothing truly noteworthy happening besides a time traveler using his invention to pursue love that cannot really be explained, but the clever dialect, vibe, and above-average acting performances all make Synchronicity a little independent gem that you should absolutely seek out. It will certainly keep you intrigued until the end and leave you contemplating just how fun science is, and pondering the fascinating complexities of time travel.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★
Robert Kojder – Chief Film Critic of Flickering Myth. Check here for new reviews weekly, friend me on Facebook, follow my Letterboxd, or email me at MetalGearSolid719@gmail.com
https://youtu.be/2bSRrPDqhqo?list=PL18yMRIfoszEaHYNDTy5C-cH9Oa2gN5ng
Originally published February 11, 2016. Updated April 14, 2018.
