Retroactive

A troubled psychiatrist discovers a way to leap through time in order to stop a woman from being murdered by her brutal husband. Each return to the past gives him another shot at altering the fateful sequence, but the mission grows more perilous as memories bleed into the present and the dangerous dynamics of fear and control resurface. As he threads his way through repeatedly tighter moments, the line between professional duty and personal obsession blurs. The film blends science fiction speculation with noir investigation as the protagonist weighs what one life is worth saving. As the cycles repeat, shifting clues and new dangers surface, forcing him to balance clinical detachment with personal urgency. Its atmosphere blends noir mood with a sci fi vibe.

Directed by Louis Morneau, Retroactive stems from an original screenplay by Michael Hamilton-Wright, Phillip Badger, and Robert Strauss. The cast features Jim Belushi as Frank, Kylie Travis as Karen, and Shannon Whirry, with a lean, kinetic thriller style that marks the late 1990s genre mix.

Critics noted the brisk pacing and time loop setup, with attention to character psychology and moral tension. The movie asks whether it is right to intervene when the past keeps insisting on a price, and what sacrifice real change demands. It also probes power dynamics in intimate relationships and the uneasy line between protection and control.

It is remembered for Jim Belushi stepping away from broad comedy into a darker, more serious role and for the film's distinctive practical effects and retro techno mood.

Box office data for Retroactive is not widely reported, reflecting its modest release and niche appeal. It was largely a limited run title, drawing attention from genre fans and late night TV audiences more than broad cinema audiences.