Fantasia 2015: Synchronicity (2015) Movie Review

Jacob Gentry (writer/director) and Alex Orr (writer) had their movie, Synchronicity, make its World Premiere at Fantasia 2015 on July 22nd, and I have to say that this is one of the best sci-fi movies I’ve seen in a long while.

The movie isn’t overly complex, which makes it accessible to a wider audience, but it does hit its beats with a punch, it is compelling and will have you hanging on to each scene, its cast is amazing, and the story is top-notch. You couldn’t ask for much more… and yet the filmmakers deliver even more to love about this movie. Try on the amazing color palette, the incredible locations, the intense and retro musical score, and the sci-fi noir aspect.

Essentially, this is a story about deception, betrayal, jealousy, and love, and it’s wrapped up in a sci-fi tale about the invention of time travel. Much like the time travel wormhole aspect, Synchronicity’s other elements aren’t singularly one-dimensional and neither are they mutually exclusive. For example, Jim’s (Chad McKnight) love for Abby (Brianne Davis) exists in two times, while his jealousy of himself exists in one. And while Michael Ironside’s character, Klaus Meisner, tries to fuck Jim over in any time, is Abby’s deception real in either?

The film can also be appreciated for the fact that it didn’t delve into violence. Synchronicity could have easily become a film about rage and redemption, such as when Meisner says to Jim that he’s about to get “fucked,” or Jim acting on irrational behavior to confront and kill himself. But it didn’t; instead, it stuck to its heart and soul, which is a noir sci-fi love story with some mystery thrown in.

There might also be a comment in the film about invention and the advancement of technology. Sure there’s a direct reference to Tesla and Edison, but didn’t something similar happen within Apple and Facebook? True that these things have more to do with ethics and business practices, but they also have to do with accessibility to their respective technologies by the public. So, should technology be free? Should we have to pay for things like electricity, internet, wi-fi, or cable television? And what could possibly come of free time travel anyway?

The Verdict:

Synchronicity isn’t a film for all sci-fi fans, and it’s certainly not a film for just anyone. It speaks to a specific audience that enjoys certain things that might seem a bit abstract, a bit artistic or stylized. However, it will keep you engaged with its compelling story, and despite its low budget it is truly amazing to look at. So, if you’re a genre fan, Synchronicity comes highly recommended.