Synchronic Review
Synchronic is among the movies that isn't all about the things you think it's about What you believe it's about is far less engaging than what the film is actually about. However, to talk about what the movie is really about is a spoiler that could be argued (in the second act kind of way) however this is the most appropriate method of recommending it. We'll still do our best to not spoil the story…
The clues are revealed right from the beginning. The film begins with a young lady in a hotel bed coming to Synchronic and experiencing an attack by a snake. Then the medics Steve (Anthony Mackie) and Dennis (Jamie Dornan) discover that she has puncture wounds on her leg as well as the bloodstream of her is contaminated with venom. The apparent stab wound to a Synchronic-head by his fling is made more complicated by the discovery that the weapon used in the crime is a severely corroded ancient sword. Then Dennis the daughter of his teenage Brianna (Ally Ioannides) consumes the drug and disappears leaving the couple with an intimate, test of friendship stake in the investigation of this tangled mystery.
This is one of the movies that you need to watch the film as soon as you can prior to having lengthy, spoiler-filled discussions
It is at this point Mackie who leads the charge and is driven by the realization that he is suffering from a fatal brain tumor. In the absence of any risk, Mackie gets engaging in the process of taking the pills himself and investigates its amazing and extremely dangerous effects through an online diary. It's during these moments that the psychoactive Trojan horse bursts open and the true nature of the film is established, that the film truly takes off. Not just through the captivating discovery of its hidden plot's mechanisms along with its narrative logic. But also due to Steve's dry humor, delivered with the wit of Mackie. They not only draw in a few witty movie references, but they also provide a fascinating social statement. As being a Black man living in America, he is a Black man. United States, this particular "fantastic" journey is more of a slog for Steve than a gruelling challenge.
Sometimes, the high-concept is undermined due to the constraints of the film's budget, but it doesn't completely diminish Benson and Moorhead's artistic flair such as when they frame one scene with stunning cloud patterns which resemble grooves from vinyl.
There's a valid reason for this little grace note, but we're not willing to reveal the reason. That brings us back the complexities of a film such as this. It's one of those movies that you must watch whenever you can prior to enjoying lengthy and revealing discussions about the engaging and stimulating approach it takes to its theme.
