The movie’s pileup of dislocating side-swipes from any tangible here/now is intriguing and well-crafted to a degree many genre fans will find exciting. But others will be justified in wondering if all this stylish, increasingly frenetic sleight-of-hand obscures scant substance.
Flashback
Canada · 2020
1h 37m
Director Christopher MacBride
Starring Dylan O'Brien, Hannah Gross, Emory Cohen, Keir Gilchrist
Genre Thriller
Add to Watchlist
Please login to add films to your watchlist.
The movie follows a man named Fred, who literally and metaphorically journeys into his past after a chance encounter with a man forgotten from his youth. Fred “slowly begins to unravel a long-hidden mystery about a missing girl, a drug called Mercury, and a terrifying creature that has now followed him into adulthood. As past, present, and future begin to intersect and parallel each other, Fred explores all the possible lives he could lead. Which one will he choose?”
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
And it mostly doesn’t quite work, because Fred, as written by MacBride and played by Dylan O’Brien, just isn’t a compelling character.
The Guardian by Leslie Felperin
This pulpy multiverse brain-teaser is reasonably compelling to watch – at least in this reality. In another, it’s straight to video garbage, and in yet another, it’s won the Palme d’Or.
Paste Magazine by Lex Briscuso
Flashback certainly isn’t perfect, and despite the effort it took to fully immerse myself in the narrative in a way that made sense, there is something admirable about the message it wants to put out in the world.
Users who liked this film also liked
L'Avventura
(L'avventura)
A new adventure in filmmaking...
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Italy, France • 1960
- Director Michelangelo Antonioni
- Cast Gabriele Ferzetti, Monica Vitti, Lea Massari, Dominique Blanchar, Renzo Ricci, James Addams
- Genre Drama, Mystery
- Available on Criterion Channel, Max Amazon Channel, Max, Apple TV, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Kanopy
London
One young man's incredible journey of self-discovery
- ✭
- United Kingdom, United States • 2005
- Director Hunter Richards
- Cast Jessica Biel, Chris Evans, Jason Statham, Joy Bryant, Kelli Garner, Isla Fisher
- Genre Drama, Action, Romance
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Hoopla
Water Lilies
(Naissance des pieuvres)
Marie joins the local pool’s synchronized swim team for a chance to get close to Floriane—the “bad girl” of the team.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- France • 2007
- Director Céline Sciamma
- Cast Pauline Acquart, Adèle Haenel, Louise Blachère, Warren Jacquin, Christel Baras, Marie Gili-Pierre
- Genre Drama, Romance
- Available on Criterion Channel
The Weakness of the Bolshevik
(La flaqueza del bolchevique)
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Spain • 2003
- Director Manuel Martín Cuenca
- Cast Luis Tosar, María Valverde, Mar Regueras, Nathalie Poza, Manolo Solo, Rubén Ochandiano
- Genre Drama
- Available on No streaming locations found.
Witching & Bitching
(Las brujas de Zugarramurdi)
In this heist film turned horror fest, a gang of gold thieves lands in a coven of witches who are preparing for an ancient ritual -- and in need of a sacrifice.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Spain, France • 2013
- Director Álex de la Iglesia
- Cast Hugo Silva, Gabriel Ángel Delgado, Mario Casas, Carmen Maura, Javier Botet, Carolina Bang
- Genre Comedy, Horror
- Available on AMC+, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC Plus Apple TV Channel , IFC Films Unlimited Apple TV Channel, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube
The Return of Godzilla
(ゴジラ)
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Japan • 1984
- Director Koji Hashimoto
- Cast Ken Tanaka, Yasuko Sawaguchi, Yōsuke Natsuki, Keiju Kobayashi, Shin Takuma, Eitarō Ozawa
- Genre Science Fiction, Action, Thriller
- Available on Criterion Channel, Max, Amazon Video
Trinity Seven: Eternity Library & Alchemic Girl
(劇場版 トリニティセブン -悠久図書館と錬金術少女-)
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Japan • 2017
- Director Hiroshi Nishikiori
- Cast Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Yumi Hara, Rina Hidaka, Nobunaga Shimazaki, Mao Ichimichi, Ryoka Yuzuki
- Genre Animation, Action, Comedy, Fantasy
- Available on Crunchyroll, Crunchyroll Amazon Channel
Black Water: Abyss
Descend into fear
- ✭ ✭
- Australia, United States • 2020
- Director Andrew Traucki
- Cast Jessica McNamee, Luke Mitchell, Amali Golden, Benjamin Hoetjes, Anthony J. Sharpe, Louis Toshio Okada
- Genre Horror, Action, Adventure
- Available on fuboTV, Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Crackle, Pluto TV, Plex Channel
Come Play With Me
(Juega Conmigo)
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Mexico • 2021
- Director Adrián García Bogliano
- Cast Liz Dieppa, Rocío García, Valery Sais, Emilio Beltrán Ulrich, Erick Israel Consuelo, Alejandra Rodríguez
- Genre Horror
- Available on No streaming locations found.