Netflix's Synchronic Time Travel Horror

The sci-fi horror movie Synchronic is now streaming on Netflix. Directed by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, the 100-minute film presents a terrifying take on time travel, linking it directly to drug use.

Instead of using machines or portals, the film's narrative revolves around a designer drug that targets the brain's pineal gland. This trigger creates a temporal glitch, allowing for physical travel into the past. The trip, however, is temporary and fades away, leaving the user in a precarious situation.

By fusing time travel with addiction, Synchronic crafts a story that is both compelling and frightening. It underscores the potential dangers of venturing into the unknown past, where outcomes are never guaranteed to be positive.

A Terrifying and Unforgiving Time Travel Ruleset

Time travel in Synchronic is unpredictable and perilous. Users cannot choose their destination in time or space. One might materialize in the scorching Sahara Desert or find themselves stranded in the Ice Age, surrounded by long-extinct megafauna.

The possibilities are vast and often horrifying. A traveler could just as easily land on a historical battlefield or in the midst of a terrifying cult's ritual. All these journeys operate under a rigid, unforgiving set of rules established by the film.

A critical rule involves an invisible seven-minute countdown. If a traveler moves more than twenty feet from their initial landing spot after this timer expires, they risk being permanently stranded hundreds or thousands of years in the past. This mechanic strips away any glamour associated with time travel, replacing it with pure survival horror.

The film maintains strict internal logic. For example, an injury sustained in the distant past will manifest as a wound in the present, creating a direct, bloody consequence for temporal meddling. While the story introduces paradoxes common to the genre, it adheres to its own established framework, leading to a conclusion that is both satisfying and subtly ambiguous.

Part of a Larger Lovecraftian Universe

Directors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead are now known for their work on MCU series like Loki and Moon Knight. Before their superhero ventures, however, they created a series of acclaimed indie horror films, including Synchronic. These films are all connected, forming what fans call the "Shitty-Carl Universe," a larger Lovecraftian narrative landscape.

This interconnected universe includes movies like Resolution, The Endless, Spring, Synchronic, and Something in the Dirt. Each film skillfully blends high-concept science fiction with elements of Lovecraftian cosmic horror. Although these titles remain somewhat obscure, they have cultivated a dedicated cult following.

This fanbase continues to support the directors' unique vision. For viewers interested in exploring Benson and Moorhead's distinctive brand of storytelling, Synchronic on Netflix serves as an accessible entry point. From there, one can delve into their other loosely connected sci-fi horror works.

The film features a cast including Anthony Mackie and Jamie Dornan. It was produced by companies such as Patriot Pictures and Rustic Films.