Synopsis
Flashback is a Canadian psychological thriller film released in 2021, written and directed by Christopher MacBride. This film is an exploration of time, memory, and identity in a non-linear approach. It goes beyond conventional narratives through the deep relentless examination of a man’s existence, soul, and psyche that is juxtaposed to his reality and his contorted past memories.
Fredrick Fitzell (Dylan O’Brien), the protagonist in the film, tipsy in his mid-twenties, embodies a young man ready to take on the world. As the film begins, Fredrick seems to be leading a normal life: he has just got a new job, is dating his girlfriend Karen (Hannah Gross), and is looking forward to the future. However, while visiting his mother in the hospital, an old classmate’s sighting transforms Fredrick’s world upside down. Clues of a classmate who ‘disappeared’ some time back Cindy (Maika Monroe) starts flooding his subconscious seeking年auestioning his past realities.
With increasing resolve to find out what happened to Cindy, Fredrick gets back in touch with his former high school friends, Sebastian (Emory Cohen) and Andre (Keir Gilchrist). Their meeting sparks a range of feelings associated with their past, particularly, their use of a mind-bending drug referred to as Mercury. The drug, in their opinion, gave them the ability to perceive additional dimensions of reality and alternative timelines. The more Fredrick tries to recollect this long lost aspect of his life, the more confused he becomes.
The plot of Flashback parallels with Fredrick’s mental fragmentation. The timelines: his teenage life, adulthood, alternate lives, and even what seems to be separate realities, are all jumbled and patched together in a nonsensical manner. Using the film’s non-conventional approach, the question of whether time truly is cyclically linear or all conceivable versions of oneself are existing simultaneously is posed.
Fredrick’s journey to recovering lost possibilities causes him to spiral out of control and sever his connection to the “real” world. Within the confines of his mind, A vivid life with Karen he once cherished becomes increasingly fragile, forgetting reality entirely. Paradoxical phenomena start to haunt him: déjà vu, time loops, and out-of-body experiences becoming the norm. The once lucid Fredrick is faced with a decision he never asked for ─ return to the orderly framework of life he had created devoid of feeling, or navigate towards a different path with Cindy, choosing to fully surrender his mind to the alluring chaos over the unexplored potential of reality.
It’s apparent throughout the film that Fredrick’s truth may not even exist, but the need to question his synthetic reality is a reflection of madness slowly seeping through the seams. This is where madness and innovation begin to blend: while Flashback refuses to spoon-feed conclusions, it takes viewers deeper into their interpretations.
Cast & Crew
As always Dylan O’Brien casting for the role of Fredrick Fitzell.
Through the lens of Flashback we get a sophisticated take from the actor better known for his teenage action roles. O’Brien delivers on his promise portraying a lost Fredrick struggling to piece his chaotic life back together showcasing the overwhelming confusion and frail essence of a man grappling with the fraying strands of his reality.
Maika Monroe as Cindy Williams
Monroe portrays Cindy with an air of mystery that enhanced the film’s themes. She serves the dual purpose of an actual display of a missing person and a figure of lost promise and untouched potential. Her role in the narrative feels more like a dream, as she makes a resounding impact despite very little time in the film.
Hannah Gross as Karen
Gross assumes the role of Fredrick’s partner in contemporary times, Karen. Her performance situates the story within the sphere of emotional authenticity. She stabilizes Fredrick’s unraveling into disorder and chaos, controlling the foundation he is poised to relinquish.
Emory Cohen as Sebastian
Cohen plays Fredrick’s friend and former classmate who used to have an affiliation with Mercury. His portrayal is explosive and volatile, creating tension during the film’s dream-like sequences. He is the center of the film’s intense scenes.
Keir Gilchrist as Andre
Gilchrist takes on the role of another ex-friend who diverges from Fredrick’s trajectory. His subtle performance illustrates the consequences of their youthful antics and adds to the film’s emotional depth.
Director and Writer: Christopher MacBride
MacBride approaches Flashback with a profoundly philosophical and ambitious vision. His focus is on creating atmosphere and themes rather than developing a linear story. MacBride uses complex outlines that embody the challenges of interlacing memory with selfhood, making it a reality for the audience.
Cinematography: Brendan Steacy
Steacy’s work deepens the film’s disorienting effects, often mirroring Fredrick’s mental state with color, light, and focus changes that demarcate different timelines or psychological stretches.
Music: Pilotpriest (Anthony Scott Burns)
Pilotpriest’s (Anthony Scott Burns) soundtrack adds another layer of surrealism to the film. The increasingly uncertain and exploratory sensation felt by the audience is heightened by the shifting sound of Pilotpriest’s electronic, ambient music and more horrific sounding motifs.
Themes and Analysis
As is rather self-evident, Flashback is not a conventional thriller. Instead, it functions as a metaphysical enigma, encouraging consideration of the essence of time, memory, and volition. At its center is the question: are we confined to a singular timeline, or do our choices fracture reality into infinite variants?
Fredrick’s journey is also a meditation on the state of adulthood. The film tackles the dichotomy of embracing the unknown and the surrendurance to societal expectations. The inner turmoil he experiences due to unresolved memories and alternate visions embodies the struggles so many face with the constraining predictability of the future.The hallucinogen Mercury serves as a narrative jumping-off point for self exploration, acting more as a metaphor on surpassing one’s identity rather than a plot device to aid in progressing through a non-linear sense of time.
The film contemplates the idea of “missed connections” from a more holistic point of view, as opposed to just romantically. Cindy’s disappearance sequence is both literal and symbolic, she represents the life not lived. Fredrick’s chasing of her is as much about understanding who he really is as much as claiming his lost youth.
Conclusion
Flashback (2021) is a bold, intellectually stimulating film that balances the divide between science fiction and psychological drama. It features stellar performances from all cast members, especially Dylan O’Brien. The nonlinear structure, although at first jarring, offers a unique experience that rewards those willing to give it time and thought.
Flashback is an abstract film that encapses philosophy, although it might not resonate with everyone; however, fans of experimental cinema that challenge viewers to think deeply rather than providing shallow, external entertainment will appreciate it. The film concocts the same feeling as unresolved reminisce or a nightmare; it is enticing. Anyone interested in stories that entail an existential crisis or exploring the realms of manipulated memories will undoubtedly find Flashback interesting.
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