Parallel

A somber, relatively plodding affair, Parallel presents a compelling idea but delivers an unsatisfying payoff. As a genre piece, it’s mostly successful—the three leads convincingly portray alternate-reality versions of themselves, which is crucial for a many-worlds narrative (films like Coherence [2013] come to mind). The cinematography is also a highlight, with lush green forest scenes creating an undercurrent of tension beneath their natural beauty.

However, as an exploration of grief, the film flatlines. This isn’t the actors’ fault—each of them effectively navigates a narrow emotional spectrum between confusion and agony. But the writing doesn’t support the weight of its themes, and the ending in particular undermines any goodwill earned by the strong performances and mostly solid sci-fi. Parents who have experienced extreme loss should proceed with caution.

Another major issue is the film’s reliance on exposition over storytelling. A more cerebral film might have pulled this off, but Parallel is only kind of clever, never fully committing to its own intelligence. It often feels like it has something profound to say—but never quite figures out how to say it.