Review of Frequency (2000) by Monty P — 24 Oct 2008

Several films have deal with changing the past and the ensuing effects on the future. "Back to the Future", "Timecop", and "The Final Countdown" come immediately to mind. In "Frequency", one main character lives in 1999 while another lives in 1969--and you see the actions in 1969 immediately affecting 1999.

On October 11, 1999 one day before the anniversary of his father's death, 36 year old jaded cop, John Sullivan comes across his father's old ham radio. It is a night of bizarre weather with the aurora borealis dominating the night sky and, as John plays around with the radio, he finds himself talking to a man who sounds strangely familiar. When he discovers the man is in fact his father talking to him on the same day but in 1969, John realises he has the power to save his father from dying and create the future that might have been. It is a chance no loving son could pass up, but one that might ultimately plays with destiny, bringing with it another terror for John's family to endure ? one that must be fought on both sides of the time barrier.

This film has some decent action/suspense scenes, and 1999 John's radio conversation with his buddy Gordo (in 1969) is very funny. There have certainly been better action/suspense/serial killer movies (the action scenes weren't amazing, the story has some holes, and I thought the ending was a little cheesy), but the heart of the film is the relationship between Frank and John. I bought into that relationship fully, and that's why I liked this film as much as I did. And that's why I definitely recommend seeing "Frequency".