Another one of those great films that got no publicity but achieved reasonable success, Frequency manages to combine the genres of time travel and murder mystery to great effect. With Aurora Borealis swirling overhead, recently dumped cop John Sullivan (Caviezel) is persuaded by his best friend to get out his fathers ham radio for 'old times sake'. While listening in later on he gets in contact with a mysterious caller who leaves several clues as to his identity. He eventually discovers, after several flashbacks which set the scene, that the caller is in fact his fireman father who is exactly 30 years in the past. The film neither offers nor requires an explanation for why this has happened, you merely need to suspend disbelief and enjoy one of the most original mainstream films for some time.
Unsurprisingly, given the power the set has, John changes the past by informing his unwitting father Frank Sullivan (the ever-watchable Dennis Quaid), that he will die the next day in a fire. When Frank survives the past changes as do everyone else except John. If I explain any more it'll just get really confusing but in the film it makes perfect sense, never getting bogged down in the why's and how's of time travel. It kicks into top gear when John finds out that his mother, who is still alive in his previous existence, has now become a victim of a serial killer due to their changes. He eventaully persuades his reluctant father, using his knowledge of where the murders took place, to help put a stop to them.
Brilliantly stepping around the 'Grandfather' theory of time travel by placing the two eras in parellel, not linear strands, Frequency creates for itself an excellent and wholly original setup which is perfectly used in regards to the murder mystery which unfolds. Despite the fact that the only way the two leads can communicate is through the same ham radio, the scripting superbly accomodates this obvious problem with some touching dialogue and pacey scenes. Quaid and Caviezel are on top form as the determined father and son who do everything they can to put a stop to the serial killer's murderous ways and the late 60's setting of the past is put to good use with the neighbourly friendship and love of the characters clashing with John's unhappy domestic situation and the problems left behind by his fathers death. Quite easily in my top five of the 2000 films, Frequency should be considered very highly when perusing the local rental store. |
