Being a Sci-fi enthusiast, movies like Frequency are scrutinized a bit closer for the chill factor that makes an audience act with surprise when they recognize the eerie or are amazed. It's been twelve years since the release of this film and filmmaking has changed quite a lot during that time period with the use of CGI and other special effects, so the story becomes the main characteristic that gets most of the analysis here.
The film involves police officer John Sullivan (Jim Caviezel) who finds a strange communication to the past due to an atmospheric anomaly that connects him to his deceased father Frank (Denis Quaid) who died some 30 years ago while fighting a fire. When John tells his dad how he will be killed the information saves his life. But, when this changes in the order of things, the future starts to become altered creating a series of events that involves an impending murder.
The idea here makes the film incredibly fascinating and compelling. With the clock running, Frank can save his own life and that of the victim of a killer. It's a race for time that puts Frank in a delicate position of explaining how he knows it's going to happen. Director Gregory Hoblit (Primal Fear, Heart's War) does an excellent job of making the film surprising with a sense of urgency. Using his fine talent he inserts many twists and turns in both time dimensions so you never know when they are coming. His ability to control the two time periods with things in the future affecting the past and vise versa, make the film fun to watch.
The Blu-ray disc has some very good bonus features including:
- Commentary by Director Gregory Hoblit
- Commentary by Writer/Producer Toby Emmerich and his younger brother Actor Noah Emmerich
- The Science and Technology behind Frequency
- 4 animated solar galleries
- Music-Only track with commentary by Composer Michael Kamen
- Deleted Scenes
- Original Theatrical Trailer
FINAL ANALYSIS: A nicely played out thriller for a comfortable couch and a bottle of wine. (B)
Fun Notes:
Frequency is Elizabeth Mitchell's (Running Scared) first major role in a film. She plays Jules Sullivan, alongside Denis Quaid in the movie. Michael Cera (Superbad) makes his motion picture debut as 10-year-old Gordy Jr.
Specifications and additional film information:
- Cast: Denis Quaid, Jim Caviezel, Elizabeth Mitchell, Noah Emmerich and Michael Cera
- Directed by: Gregory Hoblit
- MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense violence and disturbing images
- Genre: Sci-fi, Action Thriller
- Running Time: 118 min
- Street Date: July 10, 2012
- Original Theatrical Release Date: April 28, 2000
- Language: English
- Format: Blu-ray
- Audio: DTS HD Master Audio 7.1 Dolby Digital
- Video: 1080p High Definition, 16X9, 2.4:1
- Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
- Awards: Nominate for a Golden Globe, Won Best Fantasy Film Award from Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films
- Number of Discs: 1
