
Monday Jun 30, 2025
Synchronic - S11 E84
No need for a temporal displacement event on your end, because Shoot the Hostage is bringing one to you! As the second stop on our season of films about drugs, Sarah and Dan delve into the minds of Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson and their uniquely divisive independent film, Synchronic (2019)
Starring Anthony Mackie and Jamie Dornan as two paramedics in a New Orleans, Synchronic introduces a made-up designer drug that promises literal time travel. We get into why this independent film about a fictional drug has been so divisive, despite its perceived simplicity.
Is Synchronic a profound exploration of mortality and human connection, or just a little too straightforward for a time travel movie? We dissect the film's 'timey-wimey' mechanics (or lack thereof) and debate whether Anthony Mackie's self-medicating paramedic finds purpose while facing his own mortality. From floating coffins in New Orleans to statistically improbable encounters with woolly mammoths, we explore all the bizarre and brilliant aspects of this Benson and Moorhead film.
Learn why Sarah was an early adopter of Benson and Moorhead, what this film has in common with their other works such as The Endless and Resolution, and whether their experience on big-budget Marvel shows like Loki and Moon Knight might affect their future independent film projects.
Here’s what you can expect from this episode:
- Discover why Synchronic is a surprisingly divisive independent film despite its intriguing premise.
- Hear our hosts debate if the movie's portrayal of time travel is "dumbed down" or thematically rich.
- Learn about the unique rules of the fictional drug and its connection to the pineal gland and age.
- Exploration of the deeper themes of mortality, purpose, and human connection as seen through the eyes of Anthony Mackie's character.
- Get our takes on Anthony Mackie's performance and Jamie Dornan's emotionally absent character.
- Discover the shared universe elements connecting Synchronic to other Benson and Moorhead films like The Endless.
Season 11 runs until August 11th with 8 episodes
Would you like to see the full lineup for season 11? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup.
If you do have some loose change consider signing up as a paid member. Our £3 a month Patreon tier will grant you access to all of our end of season wrap shows for seasons 1-10 and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies each month. Plus the back-catalogue of reviews from 2023 and 2024.
Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy.
If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.
Or come find us on social media:
No comments yet. Be the first to say something!