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.
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.
