The protagonist (Brocagh Lynn) is restless, and the film opens with a detailed introduction to his father, Dmitri (Aidan Everly), a temporal agent whose job is preventing paradoxes. The father’s work brings him into contact with Mariya (Jelena Uchev), and a one-night encounter results in the birth of the anomaly. The mother flees with her newborn, unaware of the boy’s latent temporal abilities, setting the stage for the story that unfolds fourteen years later in a small Pennsylvania town.
Adolescence for the young teen is a mix of confusion, rebellion, and discovery. Unlike a typical time-travel hero, he cannot control time at will; his gift is involuntary temporal detachment, which flares when he is emotionally stressed. Objects and people nearby sometimes flicker out of sync, and he glimpses brief echoes of alternate outcomes. These moments isolate the boy and create real stakes, particularly when he cannot prevent the car crash that kills the girl he cares for—an echo of the alternate Doctor Strange scenario where power cannot save loved ones.
Lynn keeps the lead grounded, avoiding comparisons to Finn Wolfhard’s archetype. Instead, the performance evokes a proto-Wesley Crusher energy: brilliant yet inexperienced, impulsive yet morally anchored, stumbling into cosmic responsibility without guidance. This is a film less about flashy sci-fi spectacle and more about navigating the emotional consequences of extraordinary abilities. The small-town setting amplifies this tension, making the stakes intimate — every anomaly is felt, every loss personal.
The pacing is uneven at times, leaning into slice-of-life territory rather than traditional sci-fi beats. Quotes from Sir Isaac Newton and the Laws of Motion underscore the thematic focus on causality and consequence. For viewers willing to engage with a reflective, character-driven story, this film delivers emotional depth and resonance. Unlike Marty McFly, the young protagonist’s choices aren’t about shaping a grand adventure; they’re about navigating a fragile reality while carrying extraordinary responsibility.
The ending is haunting: the teen survives outside of time, a presence the audience cannot fully access, while those he loves continue in a slightly altered reality. It’s a meditation on love, loss, and the paradoxical burden of power. Some may find it opaque, but for those attuned to its quiet, human stakes, Inertia is a rewarding and deeply affecting watch.
3 Stars out of 5
Inertia Trailer
