Originally posted Sept. 9th 2019
Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead are a talented filmmaking duo who have yet to disappoint. They burst onto the scene with Resolution in 2012, followed by Spring and fan-favorite The Endless. Their latest film, Synchronic, operates on a grand scale, unpacking themes of presence, family, and loss against the backdrop of a sci-fi thriller.
Starring Jamie Dornan (The Fall, Fifty Shades of Grey) and Anthony Mackie (Captain America: Civil War), Synchronic follows a pair of paramedics in New Orleans who respond to a series of bizarre and violent deaths. At each scene, they encounter a mysterious new synthetic designer drug with otherworldly effects that could, somehow, be responsible.
Anchored by a genuine and heartfelt performance from Mackie, Synchronic is an exploration of humanity projected through a cosmic lens. Mackie perfectly balances his role with humor and grace, continually breaking your heart with his sincerity. The brotherhood between Steve (Mackie) and Dennis (Dornan) ties the entire film together, centering on the heavily loaded conversations they actively avoid. The film meditates on how we engage with each present moment: How do we treat our relationships with friends and family? How do we use the gift of time we’ve been given?
As thrilling and engaging as Synchronic is, it’s equally heartfelt. It’s a sweeping story with an intimate emotional core. Setting the film in New Orleans allows Benson and Moorhead to explore locations rich in history. We venture into rarely seen spaces—like an abandoned Six Flags—that add to the film’s mystical energy. As paramedics, Dennis and Steve frequently navigate dangerous situations made even more striking by the city’s crumbling landscape.
The decision to make the two main characters paramedics is a wise one: they have just enough authority to realize something is horribly wrong, but not enough power to stop it. They’re thrust into the middle of an epic mystery while remaining just distant enough to avoid being officially responsible for solving it. Steve chooses to act not because it’s his duty, but because he genuinely doesn’t want to see anyone else get hurt. Throughout the film, he works to spare others from pain. It’s that sense of humanity that keeps Synchronic grounded, even as the story reaches increasingly extraordinary places.
That humanity is further reinforced through Benson and Moorhead’s use of long takes, which they employ to striking effect. One particular sequence is beautifully and meticulously choreographed, carrying the audience through the mounting pressure of a paramedic’s emergency call. The duo makes full use of the resources at their disposal, crafting intense scenes with expansive sets that allow the scope of the story to continually grow.
What begins as a horror mystery—we don’t know what is causing these inexplicable deaths—expands into a thrilling and boundless journey. The unknown potential of a designer drug opens the door to an entire world of narrative possibilities.
I don’t want to dig too deeply into the plot because I firmly believe this is a film that’s best experienced with as little prior knowledge as possible. One of the greatest joys of Benson and Moorhead’s films comes from gradually uncovering the story, allowing the mystery to unfold one revelation at a time. Sit back, let the film take hold of you, and enjoy the ride. Synchronic won’t give you a bad trip.
