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Flashback
2021 97 min Canada, United States of America, United Kingdom R 18+
★5.5
Thriller, Mystery
Director: Christopher MacBride
Trailers
Description
Frederick Fitzell is living his best life—until he starts having horrific visions of Cindy, 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 realizes 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.
Worldwide:
$26,747
Starring
Dylan O'Brien
Actor
Liisa Repo-Martell
Actor
Maika Monroe
Actor
Awards
3 nominations total
Key opinion
Flashback is a conceptually ambitious thriller that attempts to blend Gnostic philosophy with a nonlinear mystery, often to the detriment of narrative clarity. While the performances receive modest praise, the film is frequently criticized for its pretentious dialogue and a convoluted plot that struggles to maintain audience engagement.
| Acting | Dylan O'Brien and Maika Monroe deliver strong performances that help ground the film's high-concept premise. | |
| Theme | The film prioritizes abstract Gnostic philosophy and complex thematic structures over accessible storytelling. | |
| Screenplay | The script features overly intellectualized and pretentious dialogue that fails to resonate. | |
| Originality | The narrative's non-linear structure is either lauded as a clever reflection of its reality-bending themes or dismissed as a confusing and convoluted mess. | |
| Screenplay | The characters lack necessary depth, making it difficult for viewers to connect emotionally with their journey. |