Eddie King
Staff Writer
At first glance, the outcome of this film may seem predetermined, but with a plethora of unexpected twists, “Predestination” is not what it originally seems.
Brilliant and unexpected, “Predestination” is a thrilling film that gives new life to the old concept of time travel. This time-bending thriller’s use of paradoxes and a complete revamp of the traditional time travel story takes the sci-fi genre in an unexpected direction despite some confusion.
The film begins with a man introduced as the bartender (Ethan Hawke) who meets John (Sarah Snook) at his bar. John begins to tell his life story to the bartender and how one man ruined everything he had. The bartender then reveals that he is a temporal agent who time travels to different dimensions to prevent crimes before they happen. He then offers to give John a chance to go back in time to kill the man who ruined his life, without anyone knowing.
However, as they travel to accomplish their quest, more of John’s complicated past is revealed and the bartender’s obsession with finding the Fizzle Bomber, a killer who has eluded him through time, creates disruptive ripples in time that alter history.
One major highlight of the film is the engaging performances by the actors, notably Snook. Snook stands out from the rest due to her captivating performance in the difficult role of starring as both a male and female character, depending on what timeline the character are in. Her performance is impressive as it shows her diversity as an actress because of her ability to credibly portray both a masculine and feminine character in different stages of the same film.
Additionally, the action of the plot is engaging due to the unexpected twists the narrative takes. Clues about the film’s paradoxes are slowly revealed, making it necessary to pay close attention to the in order to avoid missing major details. The unpredictable nature of the plot is ultimately engrossing because every scene is action-packed and serves a grandiose purpose that advances the story.
One flaw of this film is that although the plot is engaging, it seems too clever at times due to the complexity of the paradoxes presented. There are some many layers in the story that it becomes difficult to follow at times for even the most attentive viewer.
Another negative aspect of this film is that its introduction is long and gratuitous. Although this allows ample time for character development, it also causes the beginning to become dull because much of it is flashbacks and background stories. Consequently, this grants little time for the plot to unfold, leaving the film with well-developed characters but a rushed explanation of the plot’s complex nature.
Overall, “Predestination” is an exceptional revival of the time-travel thriller, captivating with a complex mystery, visual splendor and well-developed characters. Though too complex at times, the film adequately ties itself together in the end.
“Predestination” is rated R and now playing in select theaters in Los Angeles.
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