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Time Addicts
[Blu-ray]
Blu-ray ALL - Australia - Umbrella Entertainment Review written by and copyright: James-Masaki Ryan (2nd June 2024). |
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The Film
 "Time Addicts" (2023) Denise (played by Freya Tingley) and Johnny (played by Charlie Grounds) are two drug addict frenemies that have a debt to pay off, and they are tasked by drug dealer Kane (played by Joshua Morton) for an unusual heist. They are to break into an old home and steal a stash of meth that is there to clear themselves, and are warned not to test the supply. As the two bicker while inside the dilapidated old home, Johnny disregard’s orders and tries the drug and it blasts him back to the past to 1995. The home is in standing condition, where a young woman named Tracey (played by Elise Jansen) is living. Denise is still in 2022, and she decides to try to help Johnny by doing the same. She also travels back to 1995, where she finds that Johnny has been living with Tracey for four months. As she tries to convince him to return to the present, things become extremely complicated for everyone there. Writer/director Sam Odlum made the 2020 short “Time Addicts” featuring two drug addicts that are sent back in time through meth, and this 2023 feature of the same name is an expansion of that short film. Time travel is a genre in filmmaking that has shown many examples of possibilities throughout the years, whether in high budget productions as well as in low budget works. Many of them work out the intricate details of how time travel is accomplished such as scientific jargon and machinery for explanations, followed by consequences of actions leading to changes in timelines and alternate realities, but “Time Addicts” is one that is stripped of scientific logic and only looks at the consequences of adjusting the space time continuum. There is no explanation on how the meth that is used transports the characters back to the past, nor is there a way to calculate when they will be sent. Just a whiff and a sudden poof without the aid of machinery or natural elements and the characters find themselves in the same environment but in a different time. The film mostly takes place in a singular location, in a suburban house that was used as the set, with set designers remodeling rooms to showcase the dilapidated state in 2022 and the standing state in 1995. The house was planned to be demolished, but the filmmakers were able to secure it as a shooting location before that was to take place. Visually, the filmmakers were able to do a fine job with dressing the interiors for two time periods, with a darker and condemned look for the presents while the past was in a fair but not so new state. As it was a low budget independent production, there wasn’t a budget to actually show the world of 1995 outdoors, such as with cars driving by or with technology used. Everything is kept in the claustrophobic indoor space, with minor things such as a paper calendar to show the year. As with the low budget, the cast is very minimal with only a few characters actually part of the narrative, with each being quite different from the other. Denise is head strong and outspoken with quite a mouth for expletives, though she is stuck in a loop of being a druggy and can’t escape the addiction. Johnny on the other hand is one that thinks of himself to be handsome and cool but is on the lower side of the intelligence spectrum with a short temper. It’s often that Denise and Johnny get into arguments, and their argumentative banter is unstoppable. Tingley and Grounds play the characters as an odd couple, and it does question what their relationship is and why they are in the same boat of debt together. It’s not particularly easy to relate to either character as they are fairly unlikeable without a major goal in sight. Both do a fair job with the characterizations, though they sometimes feel forced rather than natural in their relationship. It’s difficult to discuss the rest without falling into spoilers. SPOILERS! When Denise goes back to 1995 and realizes that Tracey is actually her mother, Tracey being pregnant means that it is unborn Denise in the womb, and that Johnny who is her actual father, the bizarre complication between the three in the past makes things difficult for things going forward with them. While there is some comedy in the situation as it unfolds, there are some oddities to confront. Why did Tracey so quickly seduce Johnny, and why did she decide to just “keep” him at her home for all these months? Was she not concerned as to where he came from or what he was doing in her home at the time? With her experience as a law abiding police officer, she seems to be lost on her grips of reality a little too much. As for how things turn out for Denise and Johnny returning, there are questions for Kane and his motivations as well. As he is Denise’s child from the future, how was he organizing this odd space time breaking family reunion and what was his purpose? The initial idea of having relationships from differing timelines come together seemed interesting, but logically in how things move along, there are more questions than answers in character motivations. It can be fun to connect the dots, but convoluted nonetheless. The film opened on December 7th, 2023 in Australia, and now Umbrella Entertainment has given it a Blu-ray release for its worldwide debut on the home video format. Note this is a region ALL Blu-ray
Video
Umbrella Entertainment presents the film in the 2.39:1 aspect ratio in 1080p AVC MPEG-4. Shot digitally, the film looks absolutely exceptional with its use of dark colors in gloomy interiors while also showcasing natural palates for skin tones and surroundings. Detail in wardrobes, backgrounds, and sets are crisp, colors and hues look great, and sharpness is also excellent. Basically a flawless transfer for a great looking film from Umbrella here. The film's runtime is 92:26.
Audio
English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo There are lossless 5.1 and 2.0 options for the film. Dialogue is mostly center based and voices are always clear and easy to hear, while the surrounding channels are used for music and effects in an excellent form. Surrounds are used fittingly without overbearing the voices, and overall it is mixed effectively. There are no issues of dropout or errors to speak of and sounds great. The 2.0 is a downmix and while it sounds effective, the 5.1 track is the better option for home theater owners with a surround setup. There are optional English HoH subtitles in a white font for the feature, which are well timed, easy to read, and without errors.
Extras
Audio commentary with director Sam Odlum This solo commentary from Odlum has him discussing all topics on the production of the film. From creating the characters with the actors through their mannerisms and speech patterns, the choices for the costumes, finding the location and dressing it for the different time periods, and camerawork, and much more are talked about throughout the commentary. There are only a few dry spells and Odlum is able to give a good amount of information for the duration, though at times there is distortion in the audio, like he is sitting too close to the microphone and times that it sounds like he hits the microphone as well. in English Dolby Digital 2.0 without subtitles Outtakes (2:22) A series of flubs and alternate takes in a montage is presented here. in 1080p AVC MPEG-4, in 2.39:1, in English Dolby Digital 2.0 without subtitles 2023 Fantastic Film Festival Australia Screening Q&A with Festival Artistic Director Hudson Sowada and Director Sam Odlum (22:36) Note that the title for this is misleading, as it did not take place during the 2023 Fantastic Film Festival which happens every year in April and May, but is a Q&A at Lido Cinemas from December 2023 featuring the festival's artistic director Hudson Sowada with Odlum following a screening of the film. In it, Odlum discusses the original short and the idea to expand it to a feature, the writing process with the differing timelines, the location of the house they shot it in, the difficulties of shooting under COVID-19 restrictions, continuity issues, his favorite time travel films, and more. The Q&A is shot from a single camera, and since it is not using a direct feed for the microphones it is sometimes hard to catch all of Odlum's words. in 1080p 30fps AVC MPEG-4, in 1.78:1, in English Dolby Digital 2.0 without subtitles That is all for the extras. The biggest and oddest omission is the original short from 2020, which is not to be found on this disc. It doesn't seem to be available online so it is impossible to compare the original and this version unless one had caught a screening of the short sometime in the past. The trailer is also strangely missing, though it is on Umbrella Entertainment's YouTube channel and has been embedded below. Other notable clips: Interview with Sam Oldum on The Upcoming Interview with Sam Oldum with Movie Analyst Shane A. Bassett "The End of Us" 2014 short film by Sam Odlum "Lost Soul" 2017 music video by Lamaroc 9, directed by Sam Odlum
Packaging
The disc is packaged in a standard clear keep case with reversible artwork, the only difference being the opposite side is lacking the Australian MA 15+ rating logos. The inlay states region B only but the disc is in fact region ALL. There is also a Collector's Edition available exclusively at the Umbrella Webshop, which includes a slipcase with exclusive artwork and a 20 page booklet. The booklet includes a message from Odlum, a Q&A with Odlum on the making of the film, a statement from the producers' and a producer Q&A (there were multiple producers and the booklet does not state whose statements these were), plus a statement on the screenwriting by Odlum, and statements by cinematographer Marcus Cropp and sound designer Ryan Granger. Also note that the statements are uncredited in the booklet itself. There are also some behind the scenes stills included.
Overall
"Time Addicts" had some good ideas in the genre of time travel and time paradox films, but the logic behind the actions of the characters and the coincidences are questionable. The Umbrella Entertainment Blu-ray has an excellent transfer and some good extras, but the original short film not being included is the most unfortunate aspect.
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