Things Will Be Different

Things Will Be Different 2024

Directed by

Michael Felker

Michael Felker

Made by

Last Life

Last Life

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Plot Summary


A brother and sister find themselves in a diner, both equipped with rifles and ready for a tense meal. The brother insists they indulge in the special, even as she grimaces at the sight of onions, emphasizing that this might be their last meal for quite some time. As their backstory unfolds, it’s revealed that they had hastily robbed a few banks to alleviate her debts. Adding to the urgency, she can only be away from her daughter for two weeks while they evade the law.

The ambiance shifts abruptly as sirens blare nearby, prompting them to leave in haste, sandwiches forgotten. They venture into the woods, where the unexpected sight of a campsite seems to unsettle her, yet they press on through a cornfield. Soon, they reach the homestead and seek refuge inside the house, hoping that law enforcement will lose interest in the bank heists. However, their hideout isn’t as safe as they hoped, as local hoodlums gather outside. In a panic, they fire warning shots, forcing the trespassers to retreat.

With police sirens wailing again, the brother, Joseph reveals a bizarre twist to their escape plan: utilizing time travel or dimension-hopping to remain safe for two weeks within the house, a property belonging to one of his clients. They adjust the dials on old grandfather clocks to a time marked in a notebook and step into a cupboard on the second floor, emerging in an alternate dimension.

For the initial two weeks, the siblings relish their time together, reminiscing while savoring an endless supply of whiskey and fresh food magically replenished in the fridge. However, as the days drag on, they soon learn that the means of returning home is not as simple as they first imagined. An ominous message warns them to search for an item in the church barn. When they arrive, they discover a tape recorder that enables them to communicate with mysterious captors, who inform them they are definitively being held hostage. Their survival hinges on eliminating an intruder, although little else is explained about this unknown foe.

Soon, frustration mounts as weeks morph into months, and when the intruder finally appears, he is disguised entirely in a mask, leading to a chaotic confrontation. Initial gunfire misses its mark as the intruder wounds Joseph and drags him off to the church, where a sinister plot unfolds involving the tape recorder and coercion.

The tension peaks when Syd, grievously injured, attempts to save her brother. In an unexpected twist, the masked intruder is revealed to be an adult version of ‘Steph’, her daughter, bearing fresh scars that appear to be inflicted by a fish hook weapon. In a tragic climax, when Joseph enters the scene, he inadvertently shoots Syd, unaware of the true identity of the intruder.

Joseph is whisked away to a shadowy office, where he learns that due to their failure to eliminate the intruder, he faces erasure from existence. Desperate for a second chance, he receives it but is warned he must also “eliminate the redundancy.” Suddenly, he finds himself back by the campsite, witnessing his younger self, yet to visit the diner. In a dizzying fight for survival, the older Joseph concludes his mission by killing the redundancy and hastily heads to the diner.

Upon confronting Syd there, she does not recognize him as time has altered him into an older man. He desperately urges her to shoot him and escape in pursuit of Steph. The sight of their shared tattoo triggers a memory, leading her to comply with his desperate request.

That’s the poignant conclusion of their harrowing journey. But if you think this could possibly be the actual ending, you might want to dive into the film yourself.

Timeline


The Last Meal

A brother and sister sit in a diner, both armed and anxious, preparing for an uncertain future. The brother insists on ordering the special, knowing this could very well be their last meal together for quite some time.

Diner

Robbery Backstory

As they dine, their troubled past unfolds. They hastily robbed several banks to settle her pressing debts, putting them on the run from the law.

Sirens Approaching

The atmosphere quickly shifts as police sirens blare nearby, instilling a sense of urgency. In a panic, they abandon their sandwiches and flee the diner.

Diner

Into the Woods

The siblings escape into the woods, feeling the weight of their predicament. A campsite catches her off guard, yet they press onward through the dense cornfield.

Woods

Seeking Refuge

Reaching a seemingly abandoned homestead, they seek temporary refuge, hoping to evade capture. However, their safe space quickly becomes precarious as local thugs gather outside.

Homestead

Warning Shots Fired

In a desperate bid to scare off the intruders, they fire warning shots from inside the house. The local hoodlums retreat momentarily, but the threat remains lurking outside.

Homestead

Bizarre Escape Plan

Amidst the chaos, Joseph reveals an extraordinary escape plan involving time travel. Utilizing an old grandfather clock, they prepare to hop into another dimension for safety.

Homestead

Time in Alternate Dimension

The siblings find themselves in an alternate dimension where they can enjoy unlimited food and alcohol for two weeks. However, as they settle into this strange reality, worries about returning weigh heavily on their minds.

Alternate Dimension

Ominous Warning

An ominous message reveals that they need to find an item in a church barn to secure their safety. Discovering a tape recorder there, they learn they are being held hostage and must eliminate an unknown intruder.

Church Barn

Chaos Unfolds

Frustration mounts as months pass without resolution. When the intruder finally confronts them, he is masked, leading to a chaotic shootout that leaves Joseph injured and captured.

Homestead

Masked Confrontation

In a frantic attempt to rescue her brother, Syd confronts the intruder. The true horror emerges as the identity of the masked assailant is revealed to her—a grown version of her own daughter, Steph.

Tragic Mistake

During the tense standoff, Joseph unknowingly shoots Syd, mistaking her cries for help in the chaos. This tragic incident leads to devastating consequences as their fates spiral further out of control.

Facing Erasure

Joseph finds himself in a shadowy office where he learns of his impending erasure from existence due to their failures. Given a second chance, he must now confront his past self to eliminate the threat.

Shadowy Office

Final Showdown

After returning to the campsite, Joseph encounters his younger self and engages in a frantic struggle. He must kill his younger version to rectify the timeline before rushing back to the diner.

Campsite

Last Ditch Effort

Confronting Syd in the diner, Joseph urges her to shoot him to allow her to run after Steph. Memories flood back when she sees their matching tattoo, empowering her to take the drastic step toward survival.

Diner

Characters


Joseph

Joseph is a protective brother willing to go to extreme lengths to ensure his sister's safety. His character evolves throughout the plot as he grapples with the consequences of their choices, culminating in the desperation to save his loved ones. His cleverness and impulsive nature drive the narrative forward.

🛡️ Protector 🤔 Survivor 🚨 Desperate

Syd

Syd is a determined sister who faces overwhelming challenges while grappling with the impact of their actions. Her strength and vulnerability shape her character, portraying the emotional turmoil of juggling her past and a looming future. The bond with Joseph reveals her resilience and depth.

💪 Strong 💔 Vulnerable 🚀 Adventurous

Setting


Time period

The film captures a modern-day scenario with themes of desperation and urgency. The narrative revolves around the consequences of crime and time manipulation, showcasing the characters' struggle against both external threats and their own past decisions.

Location

Diner, Woods, Homestead, Church Barn

The movie unfolds in a diner where siblings share a fateful meal, emphasizing their tense situation. They flee into the woods, an area filled with uncertainty, before reaching a homestead that serves as their refuge. The church barn plays a crucial role in the story's climax, adding a layer of mystery and urgency.

🏞️ Nature 🏚️ Abandoned 🍔 Eatery

Themes


🔄

Time Travel

Time travel is a central theme, allowing the main characters to escape their dire circumstances. This element adds complexity to the plot, as they navigate alternate dimensions and face the consequences of their actions. The manipulation of time introduces both hope and despair in their struggle for survival.

💔

Family Bonds

At the heart of the film is the bond between the siblings, showcasing their loyalty and desperation to protect each other. Their relationship is tested as they confront dire situations, revealing the lengths one will go to for family. The emotional weight of their journey highlights the importance of connection, even amidst chaos.

🧩

Identity

The theme of identity is explored through the characters' experiences and transformations. With time manipulation, their identities shift and are challenged, particularly for Joseph as he confronts his younger self. The film probes deep into who they are and who they have become, culminating in a poignant conclusion.

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