Synchronic is the return to the festival for auteurs Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson with their most complete film yet as they strike to the core of what science-fiction is truly all about.
New Orleans paramedics and friends Steve (Anthony Mackie) and Dennis (Jamie Dornan) arrive on the scene for what seems like a typical overdose, they end up stumbling upon something truly bizarre. A series of grisly, drug-related deaths and the one commonality is a synthetic drug known as Synchronic, which does a lot more than just get you high and sets Steve on a journey he never expected.
This is smart science-fiction on an emotional level that is rarely seen. It’s not something looking to impress us with flashy visuals and weird ideas but rather Synchronic gets to the heart of what makes the genre truly memorable; allowing for reflection on the human condition.
Benson & Moorhead have never expressed their voices clearer then they have here on this one. Impressively shot and with character development for days, it’s a film that gets a little weird but isn’t afraid to make sure that it’s all got purpose as both Mackie and Dornan anchor the emotional core message of the film.
Synchronic is the epitome of blended genre film making because it makes sure to let every trick it has in its bag shine without taking away from what’s the most important thing of all in any film out there, the characters it wants to get us invested with.
- Release Date: 9/8/2019
