Synopsis
Flashback is a self-reflective sci-fi thriller directed by Christopher MacBride that echoes in the viewer’s mind with themes of memory, time, and unresolved trauma. The film is a psychological puzzle and was released in 2020 as The Education of Fredrick Fitzell. It seamlessly intertwines fantasy and reality, past and present.
The film follows Fredrick Fitzell (Dylan O’Brien), a thirty-something man whose life seems ideal by most standards. He is recently employed in a corporate position, owns a sleek apartment, and has a girlfriend who is planning a life together. At first glance, Fitzell seems the epitome of contemporary success. But everything comes utterly crashing down when his mother’s declining health rekindles long buried memories and unresolved questions.
In the course of hallucinations and flash-backs, he becomes obsessed with recalling a particular Cindy Williams, a high school classmate who disappeared under strange circumstances. What was once dismissed as a youthful anecdote loses its frivolous credentials and turns heavy, clawing away in Fred’s subconscious.
The attempts to suppress thoughts seem to bring them back with more force. He remembers taking an experimental drug called Merc, short for Mercury, which promised a potent out-of-body experience, during high school. As he pulls himself through these memories Fred gets pulled back into scenes he is reliving from his teenage years, having conversations, attending parties, and experiencing moments which feel like more than simple memories.
Inaccurate. These are not only memories, but something more profound—windows into alternative timelines. Fred realizes he is wrong when he dives deeper and realizes time may not be real or linear, and by changing his perception, he may be able to multiply and share experience versions of his life. In one thread he is an ambitious businessman on a corporate trajectory, in another a high school dropout living freely with Cindy, while in yet another, a homeless wanderer chasing meaning.
What follows is a fractal pattern fused with a kaleidoscope in surreal colors to describe what pieces of time, Fred’s past, present and the future rewind and play interlaces bound together by a single, unescapable, undeniable reality, choices. Choices, decisions engagements paired with actions taken must be faced. The most important of all, whether he decided to embrace his essence renouncing the societal expectations framework chosen would brutally dictate cradle his life in. “I CINDY” she becomes a symbol of the road not taken: wildly captivating, beautiful, chaotic and dangerously reckless.
The film explores a philosophical question: what is real, and how much control do we actually have over our timeline? Is Fred merely hallucinating, or is he uncovering the truths of existence? This ambiguity—answering some questions while leaving others open—is what fuels the film’s mystery, and in stark contrast to many other sci-fi thrillers, Flashback does not offer a neat conclusion. Instead, it offers an open challenge to the viewer to decide how they interpret flashbacks, memories, trauma, and one’s self.
Cast & Crew
Dylan O’Brien as Fredrick Fitzell
It might be said that O’Brien known for his roles in The Maze Runner series and Teen Wolf, has not achieved anything memorable, but with Flashback, he breaks new ground as a character on the brink of an existential breakdown, giving one of the most nuanced performances of his career. In and out of Fred’s character, O’Brien shows Fred as both vulnerable and determined, and he skillfully navigates between timelines and character versions with emotional razor’s edge precision.
Maika Monroe as Cindy Williams
Monroe’s performance resonates with viewers as Cindy due to her ethereal nature and magnetism. Her portrayal of a character who walks the thin line between reminiscence and illusion is hauntingly captivating. Indeed, a Cindy is not merely a character but an embodiment of youthful defiance and an epitome of unreserved liberation.
Hannah Gross as Karen (Fred’s girlfriend)
As Fred’s girlfriend, Hannah Gross plays the practical partner who in some ways, appears to be grounding his life. Her composed disposition clashes sharply with the disorder spiraling within Fred’s psyche.
Also appearing in supporting roles are Keir Gilchrist, Emory Cohen, and Amanda Brugel. They populate Fred’s past and present, each adding a piece to his multi-layered perception puzzle.
Director and Writer: Christopher MacBride
MacBride is known for his debut feature, The Conspiracy (2012). He continues to delve into obsessions with paranoia, reality distortion, and other philosophical themes. In Flashback, he builds a metaphysically rich narrative with visual and symbolic techniques alongside a non-linear storyline. The screenplay, at times too cryptic, has poetic undertones, oscillating exposition and hallucination.
MacBride’s stylistic choices in this film are particularly bold, as he uses quick cuts, extreme angles, and psychedelic color grading to mimic the disassociated mind of his protagonist. This approach brings to mind Lynchian and Kelly elements (Donnie Darko), although it is more modern and has a unique flair.
Flashback currently sits at an IMDb rating of approximately 5.4/10, capturing its mixed reception. While the film’s ambition, visual storytelling and O’Briens performance in particular garnered praise, critics tore the film apart for being too opaque and narratively convoluted.
Supporters commend the film for its audacity and intelligence, considering it a work that goes against conventional storytelling. Their argument is that the fragmented structure and non-linear timeline are not deficiencies but rather considered choices that echo the film’s themes. Rather than piecing together clues, audiences are invited to immerse themselves in the experience Flashback offers.
Opposed to this, detractors of the film cite the conversations void of emotion, the lack of context, and repetitive stylistic editing as primary reasons that made the storyline hard to navigate. For viewers who are looking for a linear thriller or a sci-fi spectacle, the movie may seem purely abstract and devoid of meaning.
Regardless of this division, Flashback is regarded as a classic among admirers of philosophical and experimental film. Its treatment of alternate realities, drug-induced consciousness, and the implications of personal choice captivates audiences who prefer challenging plots.
To Wrap Up
Flashback (2020), a film does not seem to fit any specific box. It encompasses a psychological thriller, a sci-fi mystery, and an existential reflection all at once. It analyzes how memories define our personalities while asking if human beings are anchored to a single path in life or free to navigate a web of endless choices.
The film employs a non-linear storyline and dreamlike imagery to evoke a surreal state that simulates the protagonist’s mental condition. Dylan O’Brien gives the film’s protagonist a compelling and deeply nuanced performance that is bolstered by effective directing and richly atmospheric world-building.
While perhaps not all viewers will find appeal in it, Flashback is distinctive enough to offer a perilous but provocative path towards pieces of one’s identity, reflections of the past, and introspection—if one is enthusiastic to embark on the journey. The film in essence puts forth reality and existence, challenging the viewers to not grasp easy resolutions.
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