Things Will Be Different – Movie Review (4/5)

THINGS WILL BE DIFFERENT is a new sci-fi thriller that works amazingly well. It has a character-driven plot and a very practical approach to sci-fi. It’s brilliant really. Read our full Things Will Be Different movie review here!

THINGS WILL BE DIFFERENT is my kind of sci-fi thriller. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love all kinds of sci-fi from Alien to Avatar and everything in between.

However, there is something special about a sci-fi story that feels like it could happen to you. In your own house and via objects that are all around you. That’s the approach of this movie.

Continue reading our Things Will Be Different movie review below. Find it In Theaters and On Digital from October 4, 2024.

Supernatural in a very natural way

In Things Will Be Different, we meet the estranged siblings Joseph (Adam David Thompson) and Sidney (Riley Dandy) right after they’ve committed a robbery and need to hide out for a while.

They meet up at a diner and already know where they’re heading. There’s an abandoned farmhouse nearby and it can transport them to a different time. Forget about a pimped-put DeLorean, this is very practical.

Armed with nothing but a handwritten notebook, Joseph and Sidney will move through time and stay hidden that way for two weeks. Then they’ll return home when things are calmer.

That was the plan, anyway. Unfortunately, something changes and they’re trapped. Their unknown captor has a demand that must be met before they can return. And meeting this demand could take a while.

This is a very character-driven story, but with Adam David Thompson (Glass) and Riley Dandy (Christmas Bloody Christmas) in the two all-important lead roles, it works like a charm.

I was simply spellbound by them, and completely bought into them being siblings.

That delicious Benson and Moorhead vibe

I really don’t want to take anything away from filmmaker Michale Felker, who is the writer and director of Things Will Be Different. I’ll get back to him later, to speak of all his obvious talents.

However, as someone who has enjoyed all the movies from writer-director duo Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead, I have to mention their involvement.

Both are executive producers on this movie – Justin Benson is even in the film in a key role – and if you’re a fan of their previous work, you should love Things Will Be Different. This has that same vibe!

That feeling that you could actually experience this yourself. As mentioned initially, I do love all kinds of sci-fi. Whether paired with horror, comedy, mystery, thriller, drama or what have you.

Still, the kind of sci-fi that feels real just hits differently – in a very good way. And that’s exactly what Things Will be Different does.

Watch Things Will Be Different In Theaters or On Digital

As previously mentioned, Things Will Be Different comes from Michael Felker. He is the writer and director of this absolutely brilliant sci-fi thriller.

This is the first feature film from Michael Felker as a writer and director, but I cannot imagine it will be his last. I already look forward to his next movie!

The fact that I described this movie as having a “Benson and Moorhead vibe” isn’t without reason. But maybe it could also be that their movies have a Michael Felker-vibe as he has been editing much of their work.

This includes Spring (2014), The Endless (2017), and Synchronic (2019). In fact, he even took part in editing their 2014 V/H/S/Viral segment “Bonestorm”.

Most likely, it’s just that all three have many of the same ideas and approaches to storytelling. And that’s my jam as well, so I am very happy and highly recommend you check out this sci-fi thriller gem.

Things Will Be Different is out in theaters and on digital from October 4, 2024.

Details

Writer & Director: Michael Felker
Cast: Adam David Thompson, Riley Dandy, Chloe Skoczen, Justin Benson, Sarah Bolger, Jori Lynn Felker