A man bursts into a diner, a frantic prophet from a future choked by technology. He doesn’t offer pleasantries, only a desperate warning: humanity is on the brink, and social media is the weapon. This is the unsettling premise of a film driven by the compelling, if weary, energy of Sam Rockwell.
Rockwell portrays a time traveler on his 117th attempt to rally a team, to find the precise combination of individuals who can avert disaster. He knows their names, their vulnerabilities, even intimate details of their lives, laying bare a haunting familiarity with their present. It’s a performance that showcases his charisma, yet feels strangely effortless, as if he’s revisiting well-trodden ground.
He assembles a mismatched group – a grieving mother, a struggling Uber driver, teachers grappling with modern life, and a woman uniquely allergic to the digital world. Each is haunted by the insidious creep of technology into their lives, drawn into a mission that feels both urgent and utterly bizarre.
The film delves into individual stories, some far more potent than others. Juno Temple delivers a particularly heartbreaking performance as a mother offered the unimaginable: a chance to clone her son after a tragic loss. The scenario spirals into a disturbing exploration of grief, control, and the unsettling possibilities of artificial intelligence.
Another compelling arc follows a young woman battling a rare sensitivity while her partner descends into the immersive, isolating world of virtual reality. These vignettes hint at the film’s potential, suggesting entire narratives lost within the larger, sprawling plot.
The mission itself is a descent into the surreal. Expect masked adversaries, hordes of phone-obsessed youths, and a truly unsettling creature – a cat-horse hybrid that embodies the grotesque excesses of a digitally-saturated world. The imagery is striking, even disturbing, but often feels disconnected from the core emotional threads.
At over two hours, the film struggles to maintain focus, becoming bogged down in its own ambition. The narrative becomes convoluted, losing momentum as it veers into familiar territory, echoing themes from science fiction classics. The final act, unfortunately, fails to deliver a satisfying resolution.
While not the revolutionary cinematic experience it aspires to be, the film offers moments of genuine insight and compelling performances. Rockwell and Temple shine, but their talents are ultimately overshadowed by a story that bites off more than it can chew. It’s a cautionary tale, vividly rendered, but ultimately lacking the cohesive power to truly resonate.
