Flashback (2020)

Frederick Fitzell (Dylan O’Brien) is living his best life—until he starts having horrific visions of Cindy (Maika Monroe), a girl who vanished in high school. After reaching out to old friends with whom he used to take a mystery drug called Mercury, Fredrick realises the only way to stop the visions lies deep within his own memories, so he embarks on a terrifying mental odyssey to learn the truth.

The premise of FLASHBACK is intriguing. The problem is with the ‘terrifying mental odyssey’ which is completely incoherent and opaque. The acting is ok, the pacing of the movie is fine, characters are developed, special effects are acceptable — but by the end of the movie there was no obvious way of understanding what had gone on. As indicated in the synopsis, the characters indulged in a drug called Mercury which obviously had serious effects. But the whole film feels like a psychotic trip (not that I’ve been on one). There are the vestiges of a plot, but what the film is trying to say is left up to whatever interpretation one wants to put on it once the end titles roll. Nothing of substance here. Give it a miss.

(In cinemas in Australia – check your movie guide for your local show times.)