Synchronic
"Time is an illusion."
Two New Orleans paramedics named Steve Denube and Dennis Dannelly find themselves pulled into a string of deadly incidents that cluster around a new designer drug. The substance delivers horrific accidents and strange side effects that seem to bend reality and threaten the city they serve. As the... Read more
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Streaming availability last verified: February 05, 2026
About Synchronic
Two New Orleans paramedics named Steve Denube and Dennis Dannelly find themselves pulled into a string of deadly incidents that cluster around a new designer drug. The substance delivers horrific accidents and strange side effects that seem to bend reality and threaten the city they serve. As the body count climbs, their steady routine gives way to a desperate search for answers, and the line between rescue work and danger blurs. Their professional world crashes into private fears as the investigation deepens. Every emergency call raises the stakes, forcing them to confront what they owe to the people they try to save and to each other, often under mounting time pressure.
Directed by Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson, Synchronic is built from their original screenplay. The indie thriller marks a collaboration where the duo write and shoot with a lean crew, delivering a tight blend of characters and mind bending ideas. Its look favors practical effects and looming shadows, giving it a tactile feel.
Box office revenue stood at 1,019,041 dollars worldwide, reflecting a limited release and an indie profile rather than a wide studio push. The film found most of its audience through streaming platforms and limited theatrical runs.
Synchronic has earned a niche following among fans of Moorhead and Benson, who admire its willingness to fuse clinical realism with cosmic dread. The film's concept and the duo's production approach have inspired discussions in indie horror circles, highlighting how a small budget can still push a science fiction premise into visually striking territory.
Critics have framed Synchronic as an ambitious blend of thriller pacing with a probing look at grief and the consequences of experimental science. Performances by Anthony Mackie and Jamie Dornan provide emotional ballast as the situation spirals, while the film leans on eerie atmosphere and practical effects to create a sense of wonder and dread.
What Viewers Are Saying
Synchronic feels like Moorhead and Benson's most mainstream project yet, with Anthony Mackie and Jamie Dornan as two New Orleans paramedics who chase a designer drug that mutates time. It opens with a striking surreal prologue and then pushes through tense sci-fi moments that keep the mystery but lean on mood and atmosphere more than heavy exposition. Some viewers gripe that the script leaves threads dangling and gaps in the logic, but plenty walk away impressed by the vibe, the performances, and the duo's willingness to push their style even when the payoff isn't perfectly neat.
Details
- Release Date
- October 23, 2020
- Runtime
- 1h 41m
- Rating
- R
- User Ratings
- 1,053 votes
- Type
- Movie
- Genres
- Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller
- Country
- United States
- Studio
- Patriot Pictures +4 more
- Box Office
- $1,019,041
- External Links
- View on IMDB
Official Trailer
Cast
Anthony Mackie
Steve Denube
Jamie Dornan
Dennis Dannelly
Katie Aselton
Tara Dannelly
Alexia Ioannides
Brianna Dannelly
Ramiz Monsef
Dr. Kermani
Bill Oberst Jr.
The Looter
Betsy Holt
Leah
Shane Brady
Travis
Kate Adair
Crack Girlfriend
Matthew Underwood
Officer Beaumont
Director: Aaron Moorhead, Justin Benson