“Synchronic”

(USA)

Metacritic (6/10), Rotten Tomatoes (***)

This sci-fi offering tries mightily to spin a cutting-edge yarn but just never quite hits all the right notes. As a pair of New Orleans paramedics (and long-time friends) investigate a series of questionable incidents, they discover that they’re tied to the unexpected side effects of a new, legal designer drug. But, the further they look, the more they discover the substance has not only mind-expanding properties, but also reality-expanding qualities, with results that reshape accepted views of the nature of existence. As interesting as that premise is, however, the story feels as if there are holes in the narrative, especially when it comes to fleshing out several of the picture’s underdeveloped story threads. To its credit, the film has some intriguing and inventive special effects, though its sound quality is woefully lacking, especially in the first half. This is by no means a bad offering, but it is one that definitely could have been better, especially given the profound potential of the subject matter.