Written by Robert Scucci | Published
What do party drugs and time travel have in common? If in 2019 Synchronic he has something to say about it, everything. There are some caveats to consider, though, if you want to party properly, because time doesn’t work the way you think it does in this film and, for lack of better words, it’s a complete trip. In accordance with Synchronic’s the inner mind, everything, everywhere, happens at the same time, but time, place, and risk tolerance all come into play when a missing person is involved. The numbers get even bigger when we find out that a missing person may not be found in the current timeline.
So if you’re ready to get some wavy gravy and take the trip of a lifetime, Synchronic it should be your next watch because it will take you places. Just make sure your pet doesn’t run away while you jump the timeline, or you’ll have some serious explaining to do.
Steve’s Odyssey
Synchronic center for two paramedics Steve (Anthony Mackie) and Dennis (Jamie Dornan). Steve is our protagonist, and he’s a man with nothing to lose. In practical terms, that means he’s a loner and very willing to take risks. Dennis, by contrast, is grounded. His wife Tara (Katie Aselton) and daughter Brianna (Ally Loannides) keep him bound to the truth in a way that Steve is not. While working in New Orleans, the two begin to witness a series of strange deaths that all share a common thread: a new drug known as Synchronic is present in every scene.
When Steve gets stabbed with a used drug needle during one of his calls, he seeks medical attention to make sure he didn’t get anything serious. Instead, her world turns completely upside down when she learns that she has a brain tumor. Things get worse when doctors discover that his pineal gland is underdeveloped to the point of a child’s, a detail that becomes more important as the story progresses.
When Brianna suddenly disappears, Steve and Dennis follow her steps and find the Synchronic at her last known location. Furious and desperate for answers, Steve heads to the dispensary and buys all their medicine to dispose of properly. He immediately follows home and confronts the chemist who created it. As it turns out, the pharmacist has been trying to clear the stores as well, having realized that Synchronic causes young users to travel through time by using their underdeveloped pineal glands as a means of propulsion.
Steve, finding he’s living on borrowed time, begins taking the drug himself and documenting the results in hopes of tracking down Brianna and bringing her home to Dennis and Tara. Through trial and error, he learns that the exact place he takes a Synchronic determines which timeline he lands on. Taking a potion in one place, for example, takes him back to the ice age, while moving just inches in another direction puts him inside earlier versions of the house he currently lives in. Armed with this information but running a little on Synchronic, Steve commits himself to his daughter Deunite annnis’ last attempt.
Location, Location, Location
Synchronic’s the time hopping sequence works very well because we are learning alongside Steve in real time. He records his journey with a video camera, and his realization comes at exactly the same time as he does for the viewer. Rules and logic are never spoon-fed or over-explained. We are simply allowed to watch the mechanics play out on the screen. Steve’s sense that he has nothing to lose adds to the urgency, because he is willing to take risks that most terminally ill people would never consider.
As Dennis continues to talk about his missing daughter, Steve tears through the timelines with reckless abandon. From the perspective of Dennis, who doesn’t know what’s really going on, this creates the kind of conflict you’d expect before any meaningful gain. When the two finally come to terms with a shared goal, they understand what must be done, even if it means risking everything.
Synchronic it works because its rules are simple enough to grasp, allowing emotional arcs to do the heavy lifting. Steve may get lost in the weeds from time to time, but any smart viewer can follow the time jumps without feeling like their brain is about to give in.
Synchronic currently streaming for free on Tubi.
