Things Will Be Different Summary and Review - Shortcuts Come at a Cost

High-Stakes Robbery and a Risky Escape

The film centres on estranged siblings Joe and Sid, who reunite after years apart to pull off a high-stakes robbery. The crime is intended to clear their debts, secure a future, and provide a better life for Sid and her young daughter. With the police closing in, they flee to an isolated farmhouse that Joe has secretly prepared as a hideout.

Once inside, Joe guides Sid through a precise sequence of actions involving a hidden cupboard, clocks, and a strange notebook filled with time-travel instructions. The ritual opens a time loop, shifting them into an unspecified period in the history of the house. Joe explains the rules: they must remain there for fourteen days before they can return home. Sid is uneasy and anxious about the separation from her daughter but Joe manages to reassure her and the siblings settle in to wait.

The plan, however, quickly unravels. When the fourteen days pass, they are unable to return to their own time and realise they are in the grip of an unseen, unknowable entity. This presence is willing to release them, but only if they complete a task: the elimination of a “visitor” who will arrive at an unspecified time. What follows is a tense period of waiting, followed by a cat-and-mouse game that threatens not only their escape, but their very existence.

A Magical Cupboard With Cryptic Rules

Things Will Be Different opens with an intriguing premise which promises puzzles, momentum, and action. The first act largely delivers, moving at a brisk pace and establishing its central mystery with confidence. The farmhouse, the magical cupboard, and the cryptic rules of the time loop are compelling elements, and the siblings’ early success helps keep the viewer engaged.

Then the brakes are applied, and the film slows to a walking pace, with the narrative dissolving into something more reflective. While it manages to maintain a sense of anticipation, the pacing becomes uneven, and extended stretches of inactivity tested my patience. Although this restraint mirrors the characters’ confinement, it sometimes feels like padding rather than purpose.

The cinematography is impressive for such a low-budget feature. The “real world” is rendered in a stylish, saturated palette with a distinct retro feel, while the time-looped farmhouse is presented with naturalistic, low-contrast lighting, subtly highlighting the shift from action to introspection.

Performances are another strength. The actors playing Joe and Sid share convincing chemistry; despite the years and emotional baggage between them, they operate in sync, communicating as much through instinct as through dialogue. Their interactions feel authentically sibling-like, and Joe’s guilt over abandoning Sid years earlier anchors their story emotionally, shifting the focus from high-stakes survival to a struggle for atonement.

Good Work Undermined

The film strikes a philosophical note with its suggestion that human fate may be governed by a higher power. It raises thoughtful questions about whether people can truly learn from past mistakes, or whether they are doomed to repeat them. However, much of the good work of this film is undermined by an under-cooked backstory and some questionable character decision-making (although some of this becomes clear at the end).

The audience is given fragments of Joe and Sid’s past, but not enough clarity to fully understand how they ended up in their current predicament, or how some of those scraps of memory meaningfully connect to it. The lack of detail feels irksome rather than intriguing, compounded by the extended runtime. The final act delivers a solid twist and shines a light on some of the the characters’ actions, but others remain stubbornly unresolved. In particular, Joe and Syd’s execution of their task may invite scrutiny of their approach rather than satisfaction.

Despite its flaws, Things Will Be Different remains an engaging and occasionally thought-provoking watch. It may not fully deliver on its early promise, but its atmosphere, performances, and thematic aspirations make it worth your time but make sure you manage your expectations and bring a little patience with you.

★★★☆☆

Character and Production Details

Joe: Adam David Thompson
Sid: Riley Dandy
Vice Grip Right: Sarah Bolger
Vice Grip Left: Justin Benson

Writer: Michael Felker
Director: Michael Felker
Year of Release: 2024
Runtime: 102 minutes