Originally posted Sept. 9th 2019
Justin Benson And Aaron Moorehead are a talented filmmaking duo who have yet to disappoint. They burst on stage with Resolution in 2012, followed by Spring and fan favorite Infinity. Their latest film, Synchronicoperates on a grand scale, tackling themes of presence, family and loss against a sci-fi thriller backdrop.
With Jamie Dornan (The fall, Fifty Shades of Gray) and Anthony Mackie (Captain America: Civil War), Synchronic follows two paramedics in New Orleans who respond to a series of strange and violent deaths. In each scene, they encounter a mysterious new designer synthetic drug with supernatural effects that could, in one way or another, be responsible.
Anchored by an authentic 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, focusing on the highly charged 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 time given to us?
As exciting and engaging as Synchronic it’s just as sincere. It’s a broad story with an intimate emotional core. Shooting 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, which add to the mystical energy of the film. As paramedics, Dennis and Steve frequently find themselves in dangerous situations, made even more stark 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 that 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 sincerely doesn’t want to see anyone else get hurt. Throughout the film, he strives to spare others pain. It is this feeling of humanity that maintains Synchronic grounded, even if the story reaches increasingly extraordinary places.
This humanity is further enhanced by Benson and Moorhead’s use of long shots, which they use to striking effect. One particular sequence is beautifully and meticulously choreographed, transporting the audience through the mounting pressure of an emergency call from a paramedic. The duo makes full use of the resources at their disposal, creating intense scenes with expansive set pieces that allow the scope of the story to continually expand.
What begins as a horror mystery – we don’t know what’s causing these inexplicable deaths – turns into an exciting, limitless journey. The unknown potential of a designer drug opens the door to a whole world of narrative possibilities.
I don’t want to delve too deeply into the plot because I firmly believe this is a film best experienced with as little prior knowledge as possible. One of the greatest joys of Benson and Moorhead’s films comes from the gradual uncovering of the story, allowing the mystery to unfold one revelation at a time. Sit back, let the movie wash over you, and enjoy the ride. Synchronic won’t give you a bad trip.
