Synchronic

🧠 Plot Summary

Directed by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, Synchronic (2019) is a sci-fi thriller which merges different genres. It takes place in the overcast and rundown area of New Orleans, where two veteran paramedics, Steve Denube (Anthony Mackie) and Dennis Dannelly (Jamie Dornan), come across a series of horrific accidents that are linked to a new and mysterious substance called Synchronic.

The drug seems to have strange and violent effects on people who use it. What is truly frightening, however, is that Synchronic is a substance that alters time. As such, it temporally disconnects users from the present and sends them through time, predicated on where they are positioned and what period had once existed in that location. The only catch? The consequences are wildly unpredictable and grow more dangerous the greater the use—especially for adults whose pineal glands have become calcified.

After Dennis’s daughter, Brianna, vanishes, Steve begins looking into the matter and the drug associated with it. Facing the reality of his life, where he’s a secret battling a brain tumor, makes the idea of becoming a reluctant test subject appealing. In a bid to rescue Brianna, he attempts to decipher the rules of Synchronic and time traversal.

As Steve witnesses the lynch mobs and skirmishes of New Orleans’ forgotten history, he bears witness to America’s past in all its brutal and gruesome glory. His attempts to control his chronological leaps set the stage for a psychological battle against time itself. His only hope of saving Brianna before the antidote vanishes is to learn how to navigate through time.

In a bittersweet climax, Steve’s personal discoveries come at a steep personal price. In the end, the timeless journey undertaken becomes an act of selfless sacrifice, forging a safer future for loved ones at the cost of an uncertain past.

🎭 Characters and Performances

Steve Denube, portrayed Anthony Mackie
Anthony Mackie’s take on Steve Denube showcases one of his most introspective performances where he plays a man battling with loneliness, racial trauma, and the existential woes of mortality. Deeply humorous yet dry, stoic yet vulnerable, Mackie paints his character with rich layers. His experiences transcend time, placing him starkly against the brutal facets of history, adding visceral emotional weight to the film.

Dennis Dannelly (Jamie Dornan)

In the film, Jamie Dornan plays Dennis, a father and husband trying to hold down a job while dealing with a disintegrating marriage. He is simultaneously pulled by a friend’s loyalty and drawn by empathy towards a crumbling domestic life. While his arc is less central, Dornan brings emotional honesty to the role. His bond with Steve provides the film’s emotional core, and juxtaposes Dennis’s overwhelmed responsibilities with Steve’s isolation.

Brianna Dannelly (Ally Ioannides)

Brianna can be viewed as both a lost narrative catalyst, as well as a symbol of youth. She propels the plot with her disappearance; however, even when absent from the scenes, her presence in Steve’s motivations remains prominent.

🎥 Themes and Symbolism

Time as Trauma

Synchronic explores the concept of time travel not as a fanciful notion, but as a means of examining deeply historical wounds. Steve, being a Black man, must grapple with enslavers and racists, as well as unrelenting wars, all seeking to thwart his existence. The film subtly underscores the notion that history is often antagonistic in nature, while survival can be deeply at odds with stagnation.

Friendship and Sacrifice

The emotional anchor of the film rests on the friendship between Steve and Dennis. It is undeniable that both friends have their flaws, but one thing remains constant: their unwavering loyalty to each other. Steve’s final sacrifice epitomizes the underlying message of the film: love and courage endure across time.

Mortality and Legacy

The themes of transience are further exemplified in Steve’s case, given the brain tumor he is diagnosed with and the unpredictable nature of the drug. He embraces the journey of ‘making’ meaning instead of surviving when it is evident that he is dying.

Control vs. Chaos

The drug Synchronic embodies chaos and potential at the same time. Control over time is impossible to achieve, similar to predicting life. Steve’s experiments become a frantic grasp at hope to reclaim control over that which is fundamentally uncontrollable.

🎞️ Cinematic Style and Atmosphere

Benson and Moorhead’s direction is purposeful, revealing, and atmospheric. The cinematography features soft lighting and muted tones that hauntingly reflect urban New Orleans decay. Slow-motion and color distortion during the time travel sequences serve to visually disorient the viewer, creating a dreamlike quality that intensifies tension and uncertainty.

The film’s contemplative tone is reinforced by LaValle’s score blending electronic textures with melancholic undertones. Rhythmic and measured editing creates a suspenseful flow, employing neither conventional action nor abrupt cuts.

⭐ Reception and Interpretation

Critical Response

Synchronic received praise for performance, emotional impact, and notable originality. Critics highlighted Mackie’s standout role, praising the film’s grounded, humanistic approach to science fiction. While some perceived an uneven or underdeveloped narrative structure, others appreciated its ambition and intelligence.

Reactions to the Audience

Fans interested in cerebral sci-fi are often attracted to the film’s philosophical underpinnings and character-driven plot. While some may have found the film slow, relative to the expected high-octane time travel action, more attuned to themes of mortality and reminiscence, its moving qualities left a lasting impression.

📽️ Viewer’s key insights

Emotional and existential repercussions take precedence over the mechanics of time travel in Synchronic.

Instead of fast-paced wonder, expect deliberation and self-analysis laced with uncertainty.

Within its genre confines, an exploration of friendship, racial memory, and personal sacrifice lies waiting to be acknowledged.

✅ Verdict

Benson and Moorhead’s thoughtful direction interspersed alongside Mackie’s powerful performance creates deep human reflection during time, history, and legacies left behind in meditative science fiction. For the emotionally resonating and thematically heavy sci-fi tale seekers, worth the haunting, thought-provoking journey. Synchronic (2019) poses a bold challenge, inviting viewers to confront their perceptions around time and history.