Things Will Be Different
Things Will Be Different
5.281%43%
In order to escape police after a robbery, two estranged siblings lie low in a farmhouse that hides them away in a different time. There they reckon with a mysterious force that pushes their familial bonds to unnatural breaking points.
Spoons reviewedFebruary 8, 2025
Things Will Be Different (2024) positions itself as a cerebral sci-fi thriller, but it ends up feeling more like a pseudo-intellectual exercise that's too pleased with its own cleverness to be genuinely engaging. Directed by Michael Felker and starring Adam David Thompson and Riley Dandy as estranged siblings Joseph and Sidney, the film kicks off with a promising premise: after a botched robbery, the siblings hide out in a farmhouse equipped with a time-altering closet. They follow cryptic instructions from a mysterious notebook to jump two weeks into the future, hoping to escape the consequences of their crime. But as they wait for their chance to return, things spiral in ways that test their already fragile bond.
While that setup sounds intriguing, the execution falls flat. The film is bogged down by dialogue that's stuffed with philosophical musings, but these moments feel more like the filmmakers patting themselves on the back than meaningful character development. The narrative unfolds with a self-satisfied air, reminiscent of M. Night Shyamalan's weaker efforts—more interested in delivering twists and turns than crafting a story that feels cohesive or emotionally resonant. The desaturated visuals and minimalist score seem designed to underscore its "serious" tone, but they only add to the pretentious atmosphere.
For anyone looking for a smarter, more engaging take on time-travel conundrums, you'd be better off watching Timecrimes or Primer. Both films manage to weave intricate, mind-bending plots without sacrificing character depth or falling into the trap of being overly impressed with themselves. Things Will Be Different might think it's breaking new ground, but in the end, it’s just treading water in a genre that's already done this—and done it better.