Many great time travel films in the 21st century share some similar features. They often tell stories that need to be watched several times to understand fully. These films also tend to be dark and show the limits and consequences of time travel.
While movies like Back to the Future and The Terminator made time travel seem easy, after the 2001 film Donnie Darko, the 2000s saw many complex films. This includes 2004’s Primer, films by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, and almost all of Christopher Nolan’s work.
Things Will Be Different is a notable addition to this new generation of time travel films. It is produced by Benson and Moorhead and is written and directed by their regular editor, Michael Felker.
The film presents a dark, twisting story that does not offer simple answers. It only becomes clearer when the credits roll. While the film features time travel on a small scale, this limitation adds strength to its surprising story.
What Is Things Will Be Different About?
Things Will Be Different tells the story of brother and sister, Joseph (Adam David Thompson) and Sidney (Riley Dandy), right after they commit a robbery. With bags full of cash, they meet at a diner and then quickly leave when they hear police sirens.
Joseph knows of a house to hide in that a regular at his bar has lent him. This secluded home seems like a perfect escape. However, when they hear sirens again, Joseph pulls out a mysterious book, changes the clocks, and jiggles a closet’s doorknob with care. Suddenly, they both jump and find themselves in a different time but still in the same house.
At first, this seems like a good solution. No matter how hard the police look, they will not find them in a different time. But after two weeks, when they try to leave, Joseph and Sidney discover they are trapped in this time. Their door back home is blocked, and strange messages suggest that something sinister is happening.
When they try to escape, Sidney becomes very sick, and it seems they can only follow orders from a time-bending voice recorder found in a safe. Joseph and Sidney feel trapped, with many questions and fears about the unknown.
Even without knowing Felker’s background with Benson and Moorhead, their influence is clear in Things Will Be Different. The duo is known for making mind-bending mysteries with low budgets. However, Felker simplifies the time travel story. He gives just a few hints about what is happening, allowing the audience to enjoy the ride.
The tone of the voice from the mysterious recorder is the only clue that Joseph and Sidney have about their situation while they wait for some understanding.
Michael Felker Creates an Exciting New Time Travel Story with Things Will Be Different
Even though the answers come slowly, Felker’s script is still engaging. There is a feeling of dread at every step of the story. Felker also hides the truth from the audience, putting us in Joseph and Sidney’s shoes.
At one point, Sidney says she has been trying hard to understand what is going on in the house, leading her to many dead ends. While she shares her theories—including ideas about their deceased parents or Joseph’s thought of “coincidental torture porn”—the mystery remains unsolved for both them and us.
The performances by Dandy and Thompson also add to the film’s success. We learn small details about their past—they both had a hard childhood, Joseph runs a bar, and Sidney left her six-year-old at home. However, the actors portray their characters with a deep connection.
In their first interaction with the voice recorder, we learn enough about them. Joseph seems resigned to their fate, while Sidney wants to uncover the truth quickly. As we watch, Joseph appears defeated, while Sidney pushes forward, determined to solve the mystery.
The film thrives on the dynamic between the estranged siblings. Like the unfolding mystery, we want to know more about their past and what led them to this strange house. Dandy and Thompson play these characters with the right amount of uncertainty, making them as fascinating as the questions surrounding their situation.
Despite being filmed on a budget, Felker knows how to use his resources well. He understands the importance of editing, as he edits his own film with Rebeca Marques. Felker creates tension through timely cuts. When pressure builds, the editing becomes quick and thrilling.
The score by Jimmy LaValle (also known as The Album Leaf) increases the fear and excitement. In some of the film’s most intense moments, Felker positions the camera far away. This way, we see key events from a distance, which somehow makes them even more powerful.
For example, when Sidney tries to escape, Felker films her as a small figure moving quickly. Then, when she collapses in pain, he cuts to a close-up, showing how effective editing can enhance these moments.
Still from Things Will Be Different (Credit: XYZ Film)
Things Will Be Different is a strong debut feature from Felker, but it might not appeal to everyone. Its portrayal of time travel leaves much to the audience’s imagination and may need a second viewing to fully understand everything.
In the style of Benson and Moorhead, the more things are explained, the more complicated they become. While there are still many mysteries to solve, one twist near the end introduces a strange new time element, likely making things more confusing rather than resolving them.
However, this film is a promising entry into the time travel genre from Felker. His excellent editing, stunning cinematography by Carissa Dorson, and strong performances by Thompson and Dandy make this a film that viewers will want to watch again right after it ends.
Fans of “Law & Order: SVU” know that each season feels a bit different, especially from the first episode. It’s easy to tell which era we are in just by looking at Olivia Benson’s (Mariska Hargitay) hairstyle and the cast members in the theme song. This season, some themes are relevant to today’s issues, but they seem different from what we saw a few years ago, and not in a good way.
What Is ‘SVU’ Season 26’s First Case About?
The premiere of Season 26 features a case that feels pretty standard for the show. It starts with four law students at the University of New York who are reminiscing about missing out on being teenagers because of COVID.
One student, Teddy (Jeremy Gill), leaves for a date, while the more outgoing students, Elodie (Lexi Minetree) and Damon (August Blanco), invite the shy Shelley (Larkin Reilly) to join their throuple. Teddy unexpectedly comes home early and sees this through a crack in the door.
Later, police arrive to find Damon injured with a head wound, Elodie showing signs of sexual assault, and Shelley dead with blood everywhere. The signs seem to point to Teddy, who felt left out of their secret, but the situation quickly becomes complicated.
A hidden camera in Shelley’s smoke detector gets found, an alibi about playing chess in a park at two in the morning comes into play, and a women’s empowerment group gets involved.
The case isn’t bad, but it also isn’t very memorable. The housemates have good chemistry, and there are some funny moments in the opening scene, typical for SVU. However, while there are a few twists and details, it feels odd to start the season this way.
Sometimes, starting a plot that continues over multiple episodes works, but this time, it lacks urgency and personal stakes for the characters. The courtroom scene is enjoyable as it shows Carisi (Peter Scanavino) in action, but the journey to get there feels flat and similar to many other stories we’ve seen on the show.
‘SVU’ Season 26 Adds Another New Squad Member
In Season 26, we meet Kate Silva (Juliana Aidén Martinez), a new squad member who has been with the team for three weeks. She comes from a family of cops, as her father is a Deputy Commissioner with 35 years of experience. Kate previously worked in homicide and believes Benson is testing her.
Still from Law & Order SVU (Credit: NBC)
In recent years, SVU has struggled with keeping characters. Just as viewers start to care about new characters, they often leave the show. This has happened with characters like Kat Tamin (Jamie Gray) and Grace Muncy (Molly Burnett), who brought fresh energy to the team but were gone after one or two seasons.
Kate seems to follow the same ambitious rookie pattern, raising the question of why the show doesn’t keep existing characters. Instead, it creates new ones that feel similar each season. This makes it frustrating for viewers. Kate’s character doesn’t immediately stand out in her detective work or background.
Her decision to join the force after 9/11 feels familiar, and her coming from a cop family adds little depth. So far, her character is simple and lacks uniqueness. Hopefully, she will develop into someone more interesting as the season goes on.
‘SVU’ Season 26 Doubles Down on the Copaganda
“SVU” faces challenges, especially regarding current issues with policing, including racism and police brutality. The aggressive response to protests, particularly on college campuses, has gained attention recently.
Historically, “SVU” has not always handled these issues well, but it seemed to make some effort in the past. Characters like Deputy Chief Garland (Demore Barnes) and DA Bayard Ellis (Andre Braugher) added complexity to these discussions.
Unfortunately, “SVU” seems to have moved away from this, portraying the police as heroes and anyone who questions them as overly sensitive. During an arrest at the University of New York, students gather to record the situation, leading to ten arrests.
A Civil Liberties group files a lawsuit, but Benson only mentions that it’s not a good look, without addressing whether her squad was too aggressive. One character complains about how college students dislike cops without exploring the reasons behind it. Carisi even worries that the jury might share the protesters’ negative views of the police.
There’s a troubling lack of accountability from the squad, which feels careless and risky. The episode ends with Carisi remarking on how unusual it is for twelve strangers in America to agree on anything.
This message feels cowardly and neutral, especially after the rest of the episode portrays critics of the police as one-dimensional without valid points. It’s surprising that Benson, who has seen police corruption firsthand, does not show any empathy toward this group.
Still from Law & Order SVU (Credit: NBC)
Season 26 of “SVU” begins weakly. While previous risks have not always succeeded, they at least showed an effort to stay current and creative. This premiere feels like a regression, suggesting that the show wants to return to a safer formula that is no longer engaging or acceptable. I hope the rest of the season proves me wrong.
“SVU” Season 26 starts with a typical case involving law students and a murder, but it lacks memorable elements. New squad member Kate Silva raises concerns about character turnover. The season also disappoints by avoiding serious discussions on policing issues, leading to a weak and repetitive narrative.
New episodes of “SVU” air every Thursday at 9 PM ET on NBC and can be streamed on Peacock.
