MAGIC HOUR (2026)

May 29, 2026

Greetings again from the darkness. We all love a good (and sneaky) twist in a movie. It takes exceptional storytelling and acting to pull it off, and it’s a bit funny when it becomes obvious that the screenwriter just kind of ran out of ways to maintain the suspense. That’s what happens about twenty minutes into this one from writer-director Katie Aselton, real life wife of filmmaker Mark Duplass, who also co-wrote this script.

Ms. Aselton (“The League”) also stars as Erin, whom we meet in the opening sequence as she’s filming her efforts to cure her husband Charlie (Daveed Diggs, HAMILTON, 2020) of his fear of heights. Their stint on the amusement park Ferris Wheel is filled with laughter and a chance for us to quickly get to know both. The next scene has their friend (Brad Garrett) showing the rental cabin in Joshua Tree National Park (where filming took place). He explains how this is the perfect place to work through things.

We see Erin and Charlie having discussions, but quickly (around the 20-minute mark) realize that some challenges must be dealt with rather than overcome. Much of the heavy-lifting is done by Ms. Aselton, but Mr. Diggs is a solid complement. Supporting work is minimal here, with two exceptions. A very odd night with drag queens (is that term still acceptable?) and a makeover is a real head-scratcher, and Erin’s mother (Susan Sullivan) shows up to deliver this memorable line: “You can be miserable and still have fun.”

Cinematographer Sarah Welden gets a few opportunities to capture the stunning scenery, even when the story, and the idea of letting go, falters a bit. In fact, the film might have worked best as a Short Film.

Releasing on March 29, 2026 in select theaters

WATCH THE TRAILER

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Posted by David Ferguson

SYNCHRONIC (2020)

October 23, 2020

 Greetings again from the darkness. Innovative filmmakers Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead are frequent collaborators, as evidenced by such films as SPRING (2014) and THE ENDLESS (2017). Their films teeter between science-fiction, horror, fantasy, and personal drama, and this latest easily slides into the mind-bending and time-warping space they excel in … and all without the mega-budget we’ve come to expect from such films (I’m looking at you INCEPTION).

The film opens on a couple sharing a motel room and what appears to be an acid trip. Strange hallucinations hit them both. We soon flip to an emergency call performed by best buddy New Orleans paramedics Steve (Anthony Mackie) and Dennis (Jamie Dornan). Their overdose victim is located in a setting where something is just a bit off, and “Time is a lie” is written on the wall. When Steve and Dennis are called to the motel of the first scene, we all start to understand something bizarre is happening.

Dennis is married to his wife Tara (Katie Aselton), who has recently given birth, and their headstrong 18 year-old daughter Brianna (Ally Ioannides) lives with them. Steve’s days consist of one-night stands, more booze than any person should ingest, and time with his loyal dog Hawking (an obvious reference to the elements of time at play here). Dennis is bored and Steve is a mess, and things get worse when Steve is diagnosed with a brain tumor by his pineal gland, and Dennis’s daughter Brianna disappears.

A clue to the increasingly bizarre overdose and death scenes that Steve and Dennis run into is the “Synchronic” packaging. It’s a synthetic/designer drug that has dramatic and lethal effects, and a packet was found where Brianna was last seen. Steve decides to test the drug in an effort to “bring back” his friend’s daughter. As Steve videos his 7 minute trips to the past, and then kindly spells out everything he discovers, we viewers are spoon fed the details that would typically require some effort. Beyond the reference to Stephen Hawking, we also get plugs for French composer Claude Debussy and a rare James Bond- Charlie Sheen joke.

Time travel has long been a fun topic for movies, and the ideas behind this one are quite promising. The only downsides are that it too obviously guides us through what’s happening, and the trips back in time aren’t as structured or interesting as we would hope … although the idea of having the past be in the identical spot as the future is terrific. Benson and Moorhead are ambitious and creative filmmakers, and their shot at appealing to mainstream audiences is appreciated, as is the atmosphere and camera work. However, many of us would rather a bit more be left to our imagination.

watch the trailer

3 Comments | Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Thriller | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson