Things Will Be Different (2024) Movie Review: A Sharply Written Mystery Thriller about the Inevitable

Science fiction narratives are often confused with merely futuristic depictions of our world. While technological advancements can be a part of such stories, they are essentially meant to be the building blocks for a narrative rather than just a flourish in the film’s aesthetic appeal. “Things Will Be Different” is a film that understands this. This low-key sci-fi thriller happens in places, not too dissimilar to our present world. All the film needed was a house, a farm, and its key performers to do the trick. It uses a scientific possibility to analyze our fear of fate and its consequences.

“Things Will Be Different” takes place in a relatively desolate town and revolves around two siblings on the run. After a close-call robbery attempt, Sidney (Riley Dandy) and Joseph (Adam David Thompson), two estranged siblings, reunite at a local diner. They briefly discuss their immediate plan and what they hope to accomplish with their money. Their dialogue immediately reveals their financial issues. She needs money to take care of her looming debts. He wants to help her to right his wrongs since he regrets not being present in her life as he should have been. It leads them to take a drastic step.

Things Will Be Different (2024) Movie Review — A still from “Things Will Be Different” (2024)

To flee the police, the siblings look for another solution to avoid consequences. They travel to a mysterious farmhouse that is believed to be able to transport anyone to another timeline. The siblings fight their way inside with bags full of cash to avoid getting caught by the law. With a few simple steps, they enter another time (or dimension) with no legal obligations. Their needs will be met for the duration they stay there. They hope to stay there for roughly two weeks, not to get caught by the authorities, and return when the dust settles in their world. They see it as a peaceful getaway from their usual worries that can lead them to a conflictless future.

The siblings use this time for a bonding exercise, being vulnerable about their past, acknowledging their mistakes, and moving on to a future with a healthier relationship. However, the reality soon dawns upon them. The lucrative opportunity of escape has its own pitfalls. After all, just like in the real world, you are most likely the product if you get something for free! So, what follows is their seemingly endless pursuit of escape from a place that was meant to end all their misery. It naturally puts a strain on their mental well-being. Regardless, the film turns into a survival thriller in no time.

While following Sidney and Joseph’s attempt to escape this time and dimension, the film unpeels its thematic layers that examine the human condition. The siblings entered this place, hoping that ‘things will be different.’ This hope trapped us into believing things can change without facing the consequences. Although not about karma, the script highlights the inevitable results of our actions that cannot be escaped from the sheer force of desire. So, stuck in this trap, they latch on to any sign of hope they find, even if it means committing another crime.

The film unfolds like a suspense thriller and maintains its unpredictability throughout. However, beyond these plot-centric details, the film works emotionally for several reasons. It builds its sense of mystery not solely through visual choices but through its writing. Beyond its compelling play of visible light and darkness, it paints an elaborate picture of their psyche and the upheaval. It uses the survival flick tropes to highlight the genre’s inherent flaws. The film steps beyond a voyeuristic or liberating idea of such an escape. Instead, it becomes a stimulating exercise open to multiple interpretations based on their real-life relevance, like the mirage of the American Dream.

Riley Dandy and Adam David Thompson’s performances greatly enhance the film’s resonance. In the film’s chamber drama setting, the two actors convince us of Sidney and Joseph’s bond with a troubling past and compel us to root for them. Besides, Michael Felker’s direction and Carissa Dorson’s cinematography build a vivid sense of space even within its limited settings. They turn it into an irresistible addition to time-travel flicks that warrant your attention.