Signature Entertainment, out now

Two New Orleans paramedics’ lives are ripped apart after they encounter a series of horrific deaths linked to a designer drug with bizarre, otherworldly effects.

Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead’s follow-up project to their The Endless is yet another high concept sci-fi piece, meticulously constructed and with a big heart.

Steve (Anthony Mackie, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) and Dennis (Jamie Dornan, The Fall) are paramedics responding to increasingly bizarre injuries that seem out of time, and all connected to the synthetic drug, Synchronic.

After a run in with the chemist who is trying to recall all batches of the drug, Steve is given the lowdown on the time travel properties of the narcotic, which takes you back in time to the same location, but at a different point in time depending on where you’re standing.

Unlike many time travel stories, the rules are straight-forward, being established by Steve as he experiments with his stash of pills and there’s no time wasted in explaining the science – it just happens. Steve is dealing with an inoperable brain tumour and the possibility of being able to find Dennis’ ‘lost’ daughter gives him some focus in his final weeks. The drug angle adds a flavour of Phillip K Dick, and there’s even a cheeky reference to Back to the Future.

Mackie has never been better, showing us a softer side to his usual tough guy persona, with kudos to Dornan who has a less showy role but just as much emotional baggage to deal with. Somewhat appropriately, time flies by, and the ending is just as you’d want to tie things up.

The BluRay release includes a commentary with the directors and producer, a ‘making of’ segment, a look at the pre-viz and VFX work and a deleted scene.

Verdict: Another impressive movie from Benson and Moorhead, showcasing their solid understanding of the genre and the ability to construct something new in such a well-trodden arena. 9/10

Nick Joy

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