volition movie review

Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors.

Now streaming on:

The uninspiring time travel thriller “Volition” begins with windshield wipers moving in slow-motion across a dark, rainy windshield. James Odin ( Adrian Glynn McMorran ), a hard-living clairvoyant, speaks: “They say when you die, your whole life flashes before your eyes.” A few excruciating seconds pass; the wipers wipe. Then James adds, “I wish it were that simple.” And it is: James, a sad, unshaven man with rings around his eyes and a heart of gold, tries to save himself and his optimistic love interest Angela ( Magda Apanowicz ) from violent gangsters.

There are a bunch of other plot twists for James to wrap his head around, despite his prevailing certainty that the future already is what it is. But the only theoretically complicating factors in James’ story—how can he see the future, let alone use that to save himself—are too easy to anticipate. “Volition” isn’t clever enough to get over this somewhat prominent obstacle, mostly because its creators go all-in on with their convoluted, but never complex story.

James’ quantum-physics-related problems begin after his surly landlord informs James that he’s four days late on rent. He now owes $500 by the end of the day. Doesn’t sound too bad, you might say. And you’d be right: James soon makes the money he needs using his ESP-like abilities. He can’t plan or control how long he sees the future, but he can usually make out the shape of things to come long enough to take some notes and make a little money. Still, James’ supernatural powers have understandably left him feeling drunk and jaded, a degrading condition caused by alcohol and a tragic childhood incident that turned James into a sad orphan, and then later a bitter adult.

Enter Angela, the sort of vaguely defined ingenue who’s new in town and enjoys drinking beer with James on his rooftop. Apanowicz delivers a fine enough performance, but Angela is more plot device than co-lead, let alone supporting character. When James says that “Our choices don't matter. Life happens beyond our control,” Angela’s there with a dutiful, but unconvincing response: “That's a shitty way of seeing the world.” James wants to buy what Angela’s selling, but he’s a little preoccupied with a diamond fencing scheme that’s (barely) planned by Ray ( John Cassini ), a tetchy hardware store owner, and Ray’s heavies, Sal ( Frank Cassini ) and Terry ( Aleks Paunovic ).

Here’s where matters become negligibly complicated. To solve Ray and therefore James’ money problems, James has to start talking to his nagging, eccentric scientist friend Elliot ( Bill Marchant ). Elliot warns James that he needs to try harder, in general, which explains why James has avoided him until the events depicted in “Volition.” But once James and Elliot do finally get together, some kind of plot begins, with James having to figure out a way to travel back in time, and save himself. There aren’t many surprises here, because the bread crumbs that lead to the movie’s big finish are plentiful and very stale. Seriously, the plot twists in this movie are so obvious and unappetizing that you couldn’t miss them if you tried.

And even if you succeeded, the biggest question posed by “Volition” would still be: So what ? The movie’s ensemble cast are all believable enough in their respective roles, but director Tony Dean Smith and co-writer Ryan W. Smith don’t take them anywhere noteworthy. James retraces his steps right until something inevitably goes wrong with Ray’s diamonds. Then he has to retrace his steps even further, now with an ostensibly renewed sense of purpose: fix the diamond deal, or die trying. This cycle of events repeats itself, with some minor variations, until it becomes clear that the Smiths’ bigger ideas don’t meaningfully affect the shape or the substance of James’s story (ex: it’s unclear what Elliot does except keep the plot going). And while a complex narrative isn’t everything when it comes to science-fiction, it’s kind of important when your time-travel movie is focused on one man’s frustrated attempts at escaping his own private “ Groundhog Day .”

Nothing in “Volition” seems consequential, because the Smiths barely pitch their narrative’s stakes. Their sketchy scenario always seems to be a few rewrites away from some place unexpected, but they never quite get there. So while there’s some talk in “Volition” about free will and the consequences of one’s actions, that all sounds like genre movie ballyhoo coming from stick figure characters like James, the kind of undeveloped hard-luck character who tries to establish his blue-collar bonafides by describing time travel as “Some quantum string theory bullshit about different events ringing out over space and time.” I wish “Volition” weren't so simple, but it is.

Now available on digital platforms.

Simon Abrams

Simon Abrams is a native New Yorker and freelance film critic whose work has been featured in The New York Times , Vanity Fair , The Village Voice, and elsewhere.

Now playing

Matt Zoller Seitz

Dad & Step-Dad

Carlos aguilar.

Peyton Robinson

A Bit of Light

State of Consciousness

Film Credits

Volition (2020)

Adrian Glynn McMorran as James

Magda Apanowicz as Angela

John Cassini as Ray

Frank Cassini as Sal

Aleks Paunovic as Terry

Bill Marchant as Elliott

Tony Dean Smith
Ryan W. Smith

Cinematographer

Byron Kopman
Matthew Rogers

Latest blog posts

Until It’s Too Late: Bertrand Bonello on The Beast

O.J. Simpson Dies: The Rise & Fall of A Superstar

Which Cannes Film Will Win the Palme d’Or? Let’s Rank Their Chances

Second Sight Drops 4K Releases for Excellent Films by Brandon Cronenberg, Jeremy Saulnier, and Alexandre Aja

an image, when javascript is unavailable

‘Volition’: Film Review

Crime doesn't pay, repeatedly, in this clever Canadian thriller with a time-loop twist.

By Dennis Harvey

Dennis Harvey

Film Critic

‘Damaged’ Review: Samuel L. Jackson and Vincent Cassel Headline a Slick but Tepid Serial Killer Thriller 3 days ago
‘Strictly Confidential’ Review: Makeout Scenes and Flimsy Melodrama on a Caribbean Isle 1 week ago
‘The Bones’ Review: It’s Paleontologists vs. Profit in Entertaining Look at the Fossil Trade 4 weeks ago

Snarled loops of time travel have proved a surprisingly versatile and rewarding fantasy-cinema trope in recent years, from the big-budget likes of “Edge of Tomorrow” to such enterprising indies as “Predestination,” not to mention comedies (“Palm Springs”), horror (“Happy Death Day”), romance (“Before I Fall”) and more. “ Volition ” makes a worthy addition to that roster: a crime drama whose scruffy protagonist has the gift of clairvoyance, but ends up having to repeatedly mess with the past to fix lethal mistakes to come. Tony Dean Smith ’s clever thriller lands July 10 on digital platforms, where it should continue to be as well-received by sci-fi fans as it has been on the genre-festival circuit.

Living above an auto shop, lagging on rent, his appearance an unpromising cross between aging hipster and Ratso Rizzo, James aka Jimmy (Adrian Glynn McMorran) exudes a scraping-by vibe unimproved by his landlord’s eviction threats. If he feels like he’s “stuck watching the rerun” of his own life, that turns out to be for very good reason. Before we quite suss why, however, he’s corralled by fresh-outta-prison Sal (Frank Cassini) and hulking strong-arm Terry (Aleks Paunovic) into a meeting with boss Ray (John Cassini) at the legit-biz front for his illegitimate dealings.

Ray is in possession of $10 million in diamonds “from some guys in Zimbabwe who stole ’em from some dudes in Angola.” He wants to sell them, naturally, but due to prior felonious antics is being closely watched by the FBI. Ergo he needs Jimmy’s unique expertise: He has “visions” that foresee the future, and can thus hopefully figure out how the jewels might elude the Feds’ detection. A handsome honorarium is exchanged, and our hero takes the stones home for his paranormal thingie to meditate on. Sal and Terry are meant to make sure the diamonds don’t travel any farther afield.

Popular on Variety

Unfortunately, it turns out that Sal and Terry themselves plan to heist those same goods, a scheme that psychic Jimmy predicts just in time to scramble out the window — taking with him Angela (Magda Apanowicz), a transient damsel just rescued from back-alley distress. They scram in her truck, pursued by the bad guys (eventually also including Ray, who hasn’t realized his own flunkies are betraying him).

At the film’s 40-minute point, all land on the doorstep of Elliot (Bill Marchant), an old mentor who holds the key to Jimmy’s ability to “see things that haven’t happened yet.” He also possesses a serum that provides his erstwhile guinea pig/protégé means to revisit the past. This becomes essential when the present grows lethally violent. So Jimmy goes backwards to prevent disaster — but his efforts only seem to pile up further tragic complications. And every time Jimmy backtracks, there’s another, increasingly debilitated duplicate of himself running around, trying to correct the mistakes of the pre-existing incarnations.

Though well-cast and acted, these characters aren’t exactly deep; in fact, they have practically no backstory at all. But that’s OK, as “Volition” is the kind of enterprise in which the corkscrewing intricacy of plot mechanics are everything, the onscreen personnel just pawns in its gamesmanship. Despite some yakking about quantum physics, as well as debate over preordained fate versus free will, the film basically requires one giant leap of faith to work at all. Fortunately, the Smith brothers’ script (co-writer Ryan also produced) is succinctly propulsive enough to make that easy. Tony Dean’s direction is likewise well calibrated to glide past improbabilities before they even register.

It’s a film more gritty than stylish, but in any case with all key contributions lashed to the service of a tricky narrative with scant gratuitous fat or flamboyance. (The one notable repeated flourish, a giant super-slow-mo closeup of a bullet in mid-flight, seems a bit cheesy as a result.) It’s billed as a feature directorial debut, but the Smiths have been working together and separately on various TV movies and other projects for some years. You can sense the accumulated expertise that makes “Volition” at once lean and densely packed.

It’s not the most profound, spectacular, funny or novel of recent time-travel movies. But it’s the one that best exploits this subgenre’s twisty potential while remaining faithful to the tenor and aesthetic of a traditional, enjoyably humble crime meller. The sci-fi angle that separates it from a noirish 1940s B-pic or a street-smart 1970s thriller is underlined by Matthew Rogers’s pulsing synth score.

Reviewed online, San Francisco, July 6, 2020. Running time: 92 MIN.

Production: (Canada) A Giant Pictures release of a Paly Productions, Smith Brothers Film Company presentation. Producer: Ryan W. Smith. Executive producer: Laurence “Paly” Palestrant.
Crew: Director: Tony Dean Smith. Screenplay: Smith, Ryan W. Smith. Camera: Byron Kopman. Editor: Tony Dean Smith. Music: Matthew Rogers.
With: Adrian Glynn McMorran, Magda Apanowicz, John Cassini, Frank Cassini, Aleks Paunovic, Bill Marchant, Jaden Oehr.

More From Our Brands

No doubt ramps up the ska in their high-powered coachella reunion, meet the bentley flying spur speed, robb report’s 2024 car of the year runner up, coyotes’ name, logo to remain in phoenix while team relocates, be tough on dirt but gentle on your body with the best soaps for sensitive skin, snl video: kate mckinnon returns to manhandle ryan gosling during another steamy alien abduction, verify it's you, please log in.

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

Upcoming Movies and TV shows
Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

What's the Tomatometer®?
Login/signup

Movies in theaters

Opening this week
Top box office
Coming soon to theaters
Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

Fandango at Home
Netflix streaming
Prime Video
Most popular streaming movies
What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

Civil War Link to Civil War
Monkey Man Link to Monkey Man
The First Omen Link to The First Omen

New TV Tonight

The Sympathizer: Season 1
Our Living World: Season 1
Under the Bridge: Season 1
The Spiderwick Chronicles: Season 1
Conan O'Brien Must Go: Season 1
Orlando Bloom: To the Edge: Season 1
The Circle: Season 6
Dinner with the Parents: Season 1
Jane: Season 2

Volition Reviews

A sci-fi film noir about the implications of knowing the future, and the motivation to change it. Tense, sharply written, and a very satisfying watch.

Full Review | Original Score: 4.5/5 | Feb 10, 2021

Teases out the thrills and the head-scratching in equal measure, allowing for a film made up of fragments, to come together to form one fascinating mosaic.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jan 29, 2021

It's a fun ride from stem to stern that will engage most viewers and cause genre devotees to merely enjoy without savouring.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 3, 2020

Volition has actual emotional stakes. It's not just a genre exercise. We want to see James live to love another day.

Full Review | Jul 23, 2020

Adds its own unique twist to similarly themed stories of time, fate, and man's struggle to control both.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 20, 2020

A loopy film.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Jul 18, 2020

An overly ambitious film that largely manages to meet its lofty goals despite a shaky foundation.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Jul 16, 2020

The film works overall with some great scenes here and there, but the story and its twists and turns may be a bit over-complicated.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 15, 2020

If you allow yourself to take that blind leap of faith and suspend your disbelief, Volition will win you over...

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 14, 2020

A worthy exercise in the time travel thriller sub-genre. [Full Review in Spanish]

Full Review | Jul 12, 2020

The film is strictly contained, profoundly feverish, and gratifyingly paradoxical all at once.

Full Review | Original Score: 8/10 | Jul 11, 2020

As confused as its hero and as baffling as its science, Volition suffers from too-muchness.

Full Review | Original Score: C- | Jul 10, 2020

The plot twists in this movie are so obvious and unappetizing that you couldn't miss them if you tried.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/4 | Jul 10, 2020

A clever and reasonably ingenious genre sleeper that will make viewers want to look into the future for themselves in order to see what Smith comes up with next.

Full Review | Jul 10, 2020

Spend an evening sweating alongside McMorran's character, and congratulate yourself on a summer night well done.

Smarter than it needs to be, which is also what makes it so fascinating to watch and try to puzzle out.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.0/5 | Jul 10, 2020

The performances save it. The pathos of the picture pays off. And the puzzle that the Smiths create doesn't slow down the panicky pace enough to stop it in its tracks.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jul 10, 2020

As the title suggests, where there's a will there's a way, and Volition delivers on much of its initial premise. Enjoy the madness.

This crime story elevates into a science-fiction mind-bender.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Jul 10, 2020

The film basically requires one giant leap of faith to work at all. Fortunately, the Smith brothers' script is succinctly propulsive enough to make that easy.

Home » Movies

Volition review – one to watch twice, to give it all the attention it deserves

When James (Adrian Glynn McMorran) was small, he foresaw the death of his mother and was unable to prevent it. As a result, he grew up believing that it makes no difference what he does, so he uses his occasional clairvoyant visions for petty crime instead of changing the world. Two things change for James in Volition which put his belief in predestination to the test: he makes a new friend, Angela (Magda Apanowicz); and he also sees his own death. Does James have the capacity to change what he foresees, and if not, is it worth trying?

Yes, I’ve seen Predestination , but the film which used that concept explicitly was Terminator 2: Judgement Day . Excuse me if I seem to be going unusually Hollywood right now, but the famous line, “There’s no fate but what we make for ourselves,” has been kind of a motto for me in the last year or so, while I’ve been going through some personal changes: I like to think I can decide life for myself at this point. Consequently, I was wary of Volition from a very early scene when I saw how the lead character so firmly felt the opposite: how can James be the hero of the story if he doesn’t believe his actions matter? But although my description above may suggest a Philip K Dick style story, this one is indeed bleaker than a typical Dick adaptation: James pushes against fate, against his better judgment, and… well, I’m not going to tell you whether things are all mapped out for him or not.

Volition is one of those films, like Memento or Timecrimes , in which the viewer and lead character alike only have enough pieces to put the picture together as the film nears its end. And like those other films, you can put the picture together more effectively if you catch all the pieces that are thrown casually at you. The script is beautifully assembled, so that although the viewer never sees any more than James does (we get to see his visions too), it is not confusing, but rather flows well and draws the viewer into seeing life as James does.

Actually (if you’ll excuse a little tangent), the similarity to Memento was brought to my attention early on when I saw James taking notes; and I was mildly dismayed about what looked like the reuse of tropes. Shortly after, I was led to expect (or thought I was) a retelling of what I consider to be the Kung Fu Panda theme (“One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it.” Master Oogway)… But Volition was frankly so well written and directed that I think this has become – finally – the film that demonstrates to me that it doesn’t always matter if familiar components are reused if they are put to good use and if they work smoothly with other components or the film as a whole. I’ve put too much weight on originality to date, I think: you may think as you watch Volition that you’ve seen this, that or the other before, but trust me; it’s unlikely you’ve seen these cards played so well. OK, tangent over.

Where was I? Yes: the story, complex though it is, flows exceptionally well. Directed by Tony Dean Smith, and written by him in partnership with his brother Ryan W Smith; this partnership is a success. The two must have thrashed out the story until no holes could be found; produced it together, making it look and feel solid; and Tony led the crew as director. Along with cinematographer Byron Kopman and composer Matthew Rogers I’ve found some talent worth following here.

I know I may seem kind of smitten here, but I’ve just watched Volition a second time, and I still have seen no plot holes. There are a couple of flaws, naturally, but they really don’t make much difference to the enjoyment of the film, or its thought-provoking nature. The one flaw I noticed during the film was the way the science part of the sci-fi was simply accepted, with little discussion. But to do so would have been to slow down the pace, and there was just about enough (well managed) exposition, so I didn’t mind them doing without that bit. When it comes to science fiction, Volition is the philosophical kind, though, rather than the “hard sci-fi”; so you know, oh well, never mind the details. (But it is “true sci-fi”, in that the story would not have worked without those elements.)

The other flaw was in Angela’s character, in that we didn’t get to know very much about her. Granted, we got to know about as much as James did, and it’s his story; but she felt more like a walking, talking plot device in retrospect. Magda Apanowicz played her well though (with more nuance than her role in The Green Inferno demanded!), and she gave the friendship between Angela and James real warmth.

The secondary characters were written with a range of depth: the crooks were fairly clichéd while the most interesting was Eliot (Bill Marchant), James’ foster father, who we see at several different ages. Their relationship was fascinating, as Eliot must have required both affection and intellect to support James growing up with his tragic Cassandra complex.

Volition is promoted as a “time-bending sci-fi thriller”, but to me, it’s just as much a noir thriller as a sci-fi one. We have gangsters and low-lives, a damsel in distress, stolen diamonds and shoot-outs, hope, and despair. Ultimately, it’s a story about a man discovering the motivation to take control of his actions, and it’s a very satisfying 90 minutes indeed.

Article by Alix Turner

Alix joined Ready Steady Cut back in 2017, bringing their love for horror movies and nasty gory films. Unsurprisingly, they are Rotten Tomatoes Approved, bringing vast experience in film critiquing. You will likely see Alix enjoying a bloody horror movie or attending a genre festival.

The Other Black Girl Season 1 Review - A well-written, thrilling mystery

recap-pantheon-season-1-episode-1-amc-plus-series

Pantheon season 1, episode 1 recap – the premiere explained

This website cannot be displayed as your browser is extremely out of date.

Please update your browser to one of the following: Chrome , Firefox , Edge

Volition is a tasty sci-fi riff on an all-time classic music video

“Come into my world,” again and again.

Volition is a satisfying puzzle-box thriller that benefits immensely from not over-explaining its central premise. Tony Dean Smith's directorial debut is a tightly constructed sci-fi novella peppered with intriguing twists and callbacks that’ll leave you hankering for a rewatch. But be warned, it may also prompt you to revisit the video for Kylie Minogue’s silky-synthy 2001 pop banger, “Come Into My World.”

Our hero is James (Adrian Glynn McMorran), a good-hearted if gloomy ne’er-do-well who can see glimpses of the future. However, he does so without totally understanding the course of events that lead to that point. Ever since a childhood vision of his mother’s sudden death, James' prognostications have always been pretty much spot-on. Unsurprisingly, this has left him with a dour outlook on the world.

“Our choices don't matter,” James says at one point. “Life happens beyond our control.”

As most of us would in this position, James takes the Biff Tannen route of cheating through life in a happenstance kind of way, using his talents to make a name for himself in petty crime. It’s only when he gets caught up in a racket that puts someone he cares about in danger that he’s forced to re-evaluate his sense of agency in the world. He seeks out his foster dad, Elliot (Bill Marchant), who happens to be an expert in precognition and other such timey-wimey matters.

The story truly shifts into high gear in its second half when it becomes a trippy yet deliberately plotted succession of do-overs of a pivotal encounter. This is where the Kylie Minogue reference comes in. To be clear, there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that Smith — who co-wrote Volition with his brother Ryan W. Smith — was inspired in any way by this music video. But if you want a slightly spoilery hint as to where this movie goes, check out “Come Into My World.”

Like Kylie and her parade of merry doppelgängers, Volition ’s characters are broadly drawn. James is a brooding, reluctant hero who gets involved with Ray (John Cassini), a small-time criminal with an eye for schemes far above his pay grade. Angela (Magda Apanowicz) is a charming looker who curiously sticks around after her new suitor starts waving some pretty huge red flags. Elliot’s beardy bookishness is tinged with isolation and regret.

That broadness works well here, letting the compelling premise shine brightest. None of these characters are aggressively quippy. There are no allusions to an offscreen trove of tedious lore making Volition all the better for it. If you enjoyed Leigh Whannell’s 2018 Upgrade , which had a similarly surefooted and economical approach to storytelling, you’ll probably get a kick out of Volition as well. At the same time, if you like high-concept sci-fi but find Christopher Nolan ’s movies a bit overwrought, Volition is a breath of fresh air.

One of the most welcome aspects of Volition is the ambiguity of when it all takes place. We begin in a city that’s presumably Los Angeles but spend much of our time in cramped strip-mall offices and alleys before making a break for the sticks. At one point, James and Angela pull over on a remote highway after the engine of their car overheats. As James explains his unconventional talent, a cop passes by and questions them. When the officer asks why they didn't call a tow truck, Angela says they don’t have a phone.

There are no smartphones in Volition. All the cars are boxy clunkers with cardboard trees dangling from the rearview. Ray’s desk doesn’t have a computer at all, let alone one of any distinctive vintage. The characters hew to simple fashions, none of which leap out as belonging to a particular decade. The dialogue doesn’t contain references to contemporary TV or movies that might be a giveaway of when we are.

Volition could plausibly take place at any point from 1985 to 2020. Its chronology is entirely self-contained. Yet the film never goes to any particularly great lengths to point out the meticulous care it likely took to maintain that illusion throughout its 92-minute runtime, which is a true feather in its cap. As a viewer, you’re left with this nagging question that sticks in your craw.

You may want to watch Volition again to see if you spot a stray iPhone or CRT television. You may want to watch it to see the hints about later events you missed. Either way, you will want to watch it again.

Volition is out now on Apple TV, Prime Video, and other VOD platforms.

This article was originally published on July 19, 2020

Science Fiction

Giant Pictures

Summary A man afflicted with clairvoyance tries to change his fate when a series of events leads to a vision of his own imminent murder.

Directed By : Tony Dean Smith

Written By : Ryan W. Smith, Tony Dean Smith

Where to Watch

Adrian glynn mcmorran.

Magda Apanowicz

John Cassini

Frank cassini.

Aleks Paunovic

Bill marchant, kimi alexander, boxing sign girl, cecilly day, darcy hinds, drummond macdougall, police officer, jenn maclean-angus, james' mother.

Blu Mankuma

Young james, alexander pfleger, vladimir raiman, deranged man, dave reimer, blue-collar man, jason simpson, critic reviews.

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

User Reviews

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Related Movies

Metropolis (re-release)

The Bride of Frankenstein

Hard to Be a God

Solaris (1972)

Invasion of the Body Snatchers

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

Frankenstein

Mad Max: Fury Road

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

It's Such a Beautiful Day

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Donnie darko: the director's cut.

Poor Things

Black Panther

The Invisible Man

2024 Movie Release Calendar

Jason dietz.

Find release dates for every movie coming to theaters, VOD, and streaming throughout 2024 and beyond, updated weekly.

April Movie Preview (2024)

Keith kimbell.

The month ahead will bring new films from Alex Garland, Luca Guadagnino, Dev Patel, and more. To help you plan your moviegoing options, our editors have selected the most notable films releasing in April 2024, listed in alphabetical order.

DVD/Blu-ray Releases: New & Upcoming

Find a list of new movie and TV releases on DVD and Blu-ray (updated weekly) as well as a calendar of upcoming releases on home video.

SXSW 2024 Recap: Best and Worst Films

Which films impressed reviewers during the 2024 edition of the South by Southwest Film & TV Festival? We recap the reactions of critics to all of this year's major SXSW premieres and tell you which titles won the festival's major awards.

Every Denis Villeneuve Movie, Ranked

Before French-Canadian filmmaker Denis Villeneuve earned the attention of sci-fi fans with excellent Dune and Blade Runner films, he made a name for himself with crime thrillers and indie dramas. Here, we rank every one of his films to date from worst to best by Metascore.

Become a Critical Movie Critic
Movie Review Archives

Movie Review: Volition (2019)

MJT Gregory
Movie Reviews
--> August 14, 2020

“My mother died when I was seven years old — car accident. I saw it two months before it happened.” — Jimmy, “Volition”

Writer/director Tony Dean Smith introduces us to Jimmy (Adrian Glynn McMorran, “ Warcraft ”), a small-time criminal blessed with supernatural clairvoyance. Jimmy foresees fragments of his future as a series of acid flashbacks — isolated sequences flood his consciousness at moments of emotional intensity. Jimmy uses his gift dishonorably, gathering ill-gotten gains by betting on boxing matches and running small-time hustles for local gangsters.

One of his associates, Ray (John Cassini, “A Dog’s Way Home”), is in possession of a bag of hard-to-shift Zimbabwean blood diamonds. “I need you to do that thing you do in that head of yours. I need you to find safe passage for these.” He hires Jimmy and his prophetic condition to find a buyer, but when two goons in Ray’s employ try to double-cross the deal, a sequence of seemingly inevitable dominoes start to tumble that cause Jimmy to see an undesirable fate — namely, his own death. With the assistance of new lover Angela (Magda Apanowicz, “ The Green Inferno ”) along with estranged foster father and “fruit loop scientist” Elliot (Bill Marchant, “ Chappie ”), Jimmy discovers the origin of his abilities and must use them to change his fate.

Unfortunately, fresh takes on time-travel are rare events. 2014’s “ Predestination ” fixed the grandfather-paradox at its center, whilst Alex Garland’s recent miniseries “Devs” looked to unpack the phenomenon with Big Data. Volition seems acutely aware its genre’s history. There are echoes of the metaphysical determinism in “12 Monkeys,” the mob-fusion of “ Looper ,” and an attempt at the DIY engineering of “Primer.” However, the narrative trickery of temporal displacement has been done ad nauseam, even being deployed — and with greater execution — in “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.” Much like Jimmy, we’ve seen all these tropes play out before. More problematically, the time-travel mechanism in Volition is just as blasé as Domhnall Gleeson’s eye-squinting in “About Time,” with such shaky science feeling more at home in the Richard Curtis rom-com.

Credit can be given to the grungy real-world environment that smacks like a calloused backhand, with all actors lending strong performances to create an atmosphere of economic depression. Jimmy serves as a competent and likable hero, staggering onwards through all his tribulations with a bottle of whiskey and an admirable alignment towards chaotic-good.

But while Volition looks great for a low-budget science-fiction thriller, skewed visual sequences are overused — the cinematic tricks becoming tiresome after too many repetitions. In much the same way, the re-treading of old story paths become similarly boring, precisely because we’ve already seen the events play out. Watching a stale sequence multiple times from different angles does not make us lean in for more, but instead lean back.

Although the story doesn’t quite hold together, our circular trip through Jimmy’s life does enough to keep us in our seats. At 91 minutes, the shuttling pace of Volition is ultimately worth the ride, but only the once. Unlike its hero, looping reruns aren’t in its destiny.

Tagged: criminal , flashback , future , memory , time shift

London-dwelling twenty-something | Work in the city, escape on the screen | Tweet me happy @MJTGregory

Movie Review: The Mothman Legacy (2020) Movie Review: Fisherman’s Friends (2019) Movie Review: Ghosts of War (2020) Movie Review: 7500 (2019) Movie Review: Extraction (2020) Movie Review: Free Solo (2018) Movie Review: Tiger Girl (2017)

| Log in

Today's news
Reviews and deals
Climate change
2024 election
Fall allergies
Health news
Mental health
Sexual health
Family health
So mini ways
Unapologetically
Buying guides

Entertainment

How to Watch
My watchlist
Stock market
Biden economy
Personal finance
Stocks: most active
Stocks: gainers
Stocks: losers
Trending tickers
World indices
US Treasury bonds
Top mutual funds
Highest open interest
Highest implied volatility
Currency converter
Basic materials
Communication services
Consumer cyclical
Consumer defensive
Financial services
Industrials
Real estate
Mutual funds
Credit cards
Credit card rates
Balance transfer credit cards
Business credit cards
Cash back credit cards
Rewards credit cards
Travel credit cards
Checking accounts
Online checking accounts
High-yield savings accounts
Money market accounts
Personal loans
Student loans
Car insurance
Home buying
Options pit
Investment ideas
Research reports
Fantasy football
Pro Pick 'Em
College Pick 'Em
Fantasy baseball
Fantasy hockey
Fantasy basketball
Download the app
Daily fantasy
Scores and schedules
GameChannel
World Baseball Classic
Premier League
CONCACAF League
Champions League
Motorsports
Horse racing
Newsletters

New on Yahoo

Privacy Dashboard

‘Volition’: Film Review

Click here to read the full article.

Snarled loops of time travel have proved a surprisingly versatile and rewarding fantasy-cinema trope in recent years, from the big-budget likes of “Edge of Tomorrow” to such enterprising indies as “Predestination,” not to mention comedies (“Palm Springs”), horror (“Happy Death Day”), romance (“Before I Fall”) and more. “ Volition ” makes a worthy addition to that roster: . Tony Dean Smith’s clever thriller lands July 10 on digital platforms and available theater screens, where it should continue to be as well-received by sci-fi fans as it has been on the genre-festival circuit.

UFC 300: Max Holloway takes 'BMF' title with one of the wildest KOs in MMA history

Max Holloway is a certified BMF. And then some.

'Sasquatch Sunset' is so relentlessly gross that people are walking out of screenings. Star Jesse Eisenberg says the film was a ‘labor of love.’

“There are so many movies made for people who like typical things. This is not that," the film's star told Yahoo Entertainment.

76ers' statue for Allen Iverson draws jokes, outrage due to misunderstanding: 'That was disrespectful'

Iverson didn't get a life-size statue. Charles Barkley and Wilt Chamberlain didn't either.

UFC 300: Kayla Harrison introduces herself to UFC fans with utter domination of Holly Holm

Harrison was quick to call for a title fight after the win, and it's hard to imagine why she wouldn't get it.

Masters: Augusta National asked Jason Day to take off billboard sweater

At Augusta National, green jackets are a fashion statement. Sweaters with billboard-size logos, not so much.

Travis Kelce receives his University of Cincinnati diploma, chugs a beer on stage

Nobody is going to change the Kelce brothers.

UFC 300: Kayla Harrison makes weight before bantamweight bout versus Holly Holm

Kayla Harrison made the 135-pound weight limit required for her bantamweight bout at UFC 300 versus Holly Holm. It's the lowest weight at which she has ever fought.

2025 Toyota 4Runner (finally!) revealed, and the new Trailhunter is extremely cool

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner is finally arriving this fall with a full lineup including returning TRD Pro and new Trailhunter. Hybrid power now available.

NBA Playoff Picture: Key games, tiebreakers and everything at stake on the season's final day

Welcome to the regular-season finale, where 13 playoff seeds are still in the air. We break down what's at stake for Sunday's slate of games.

Movie Review: Seeing the future, trying to change it of your own “Volition”

The midway point in the low-budget sci-fi thriller “Volition” is a real make-or-break moment. It’s there that this film about a clairvoyant who tries to avert the doom he sees in his future takes a turn and adds on baggage.

Midway is where director and co-writer (with his brother Ryan) Tony Dean Smith decides to graft on a second sci-fi sub-genre to the whole “sees the future” thing. Of their own volition, they give themselves a “do over” element that could easily derail their lean and gritty tale of a seer who gets mixed up with the mob.

But the performances save it. The pathos of the picture pays off. And the puzzle that the Smiths create doesn’t slow down the panicky pace enough to stop it in its tracks.

Adrian Glynn McMorran (Murmur on TV’s “Flash”) gives a sardonic and scruffy Sam Rockwellish take to our hero and narrator, James.

His life? He’s “stuck, watching the re-run,” the fate of someone who sees snippets of his futur — if he answers this door-knock, ducks that punch or places what he knows will be the right bet.

“If this was simple to explain, I’d do it.”

So he doesn’t. Not even after he’s “rescued” a woman ( Magda Apanowicz of “The Green Inferno” and “Caprica”) living in her car from a mugging.

The low-rent mobster Ray ( John Cassini ) whose front business is a window warehouse? He doesn’t need an explanation. He and James go way back.

“I need you to do that thing you do inside that head of yours.”

He has this diamond score he got from “The Zimbabweans” he needs James to “move” for him. And his cousin Sal ( Frank Cassini ) will be there to ensure Jimmy doesn’t get any big ideas.

But there are “big ideas” and betrayals. Blood will be spilled, diamonds will disappear, James will consult “Professor Fruitloops,” his “stepfather” ( Bill Marchant ), and the picture will almost get out of hand, because of that midpoint twist-too-far.

The South African Smith brothers graduate from Canadian TV movies with a film that dispenses with a lot of more conventional elements to zero in on the matter at hand — that awful fate that James sees in his future and how he can avoid it.

It’s a far more interesting film when it’s just focused on the clairvoyant and his machinations to get enough to pay the rent, pay for drinks and generally stagger through life. Even the “big score,” which promises to be a life-changing payout, doesn’t hold that much interest.

James is fascinating in how myopic he is, literally and figuratively. His foresight is narrow in focus, limited enough that he can’t see every ripple that will cross his path from his every action.

The script’s intellectual and moral debate about “fate” and one’s ability to alter or not alter it, is far less compelling than the simple routine of how somebody would use this special talent in unchallenging and limited ways, just to get by.

“All skill and no will,” is Ray’s put-down for the way James lives.

McMorran’s performance suggests the damage this has done to this man’s life, the burdens he carries and the self-medicating he does just to stay in “the present.” Even seeing the near future with an attractive woman is a losing proposition. Where’s the challenge to be at your best when you’ve already seen this play out?

But the Smiths make a classic supernatural thriller mistake with that midpoint twist. “Volition” turns all puzzle and “explanations,” when simpler is always better.

At least they and McMorran keep the focus on James, a character who remains magnetic even if the filmmakers are hellbent on erasing “enigmatic” from his resume.

MPAA Rating: unrated, violence, alcohol abuse, smoking, profanity

Cast: Adrian Glynn McMorran , Magda Apanowicz , John Cassini , Frank Cassini and Bill Marchant.

Credits: Directed by Tony Dean Smith, script by Tony Dean Smith and Ryan W. Smith. A Giant Pictures release on Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, etc.

Running time: 1:32

About Roger Moore

Find a Movie Review

Like Movie Nation on Facebook

Recent Reviews/Stories

Netflixable? Neighbors consider “Love, Divided” by a shared load-bearing wall
Documentary Review: Sounding the alarm , “Bad Faith: Christian Nationalism’s Unholy War on Democracy”
BOX OFFICE: “Civil War” is a blockbuster…almost
Movie Preview: Rachel Sennott has NO business claiming “I Used to be Funny”
Movie Preview: Eckhart, Olga and Pettyfer — Espionage meets Revenge with this “Chief of Station”
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
rogermooresmovienation.fi…
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sám…
verifythis.com/article/ne…
greensboro.com/names-can-…
wordpress.com/?ref=footer…
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ale…
penguinrandomhouse.com/bo…
imdb.com/title/tt7284204/…
Deadline.com
Internet Movie Car Database
Internet Movie Database
The Hollywood Reporter

Follow Movie Nation by email

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Email Address:

Blogs I Follow

Movie Nation
Mann-ing Up
Action/Adventure Film & Screenplay Festival
Reel Time Flicks
From the Fourth Row!
keithandthemovies.wordpress.com/
Los Angeles feedback film festival
LOWLIFE MAGAZINE
The Watcher Blog

RSS Feeds — subscribe, or else

RSS - Posts
RSS - Comments

Tweets and more tweets

Max Von Sydow

Roger Moore's film criticism, against the grain since 1984.

Living in a Mann’s World

Get your short film showcased at the FEEDBACK Film Festival. Get your screenplay showcased at the Writing Festival.

Film reviews, news, previews and general insane ramblings of a film enthusiast!

Movies, Reviews,Trailers,Interviews and News

A monthly event... LAFeedbackFilmFestival.com

"Find what you love and let it kill you." – Charles Bukowski

Keeping an eye on all the latest mainstream films and television.

Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
Subscribe Subscribed
Copy shortlink
Report this content
View post in Reader
Manage subscriptions
Collapse this bar

By Andrew Stover | July 10, 2020

“They say when you die, your whole life flashes before your eyes,” intones the voice-over of protagonist James (Adrian Glynn McMorran) at the start of Tony Dean Smith’s Volition . For James, life isn’t that simple, principally because he can occasionally take a peek of the future. Suffice it to say, James is simultaneously gifted and cursed.

James is clairvoyant, which scrambles the narrative and how the pieces come together, if they ever do. Volition is a serpentine sci-fi thriller that wrestles with the perennial conceptions of free will and destiny. As seen in Jaco Van Dormael’s Mr. Nobody and Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange , the discourse on free will isn’t a new conundrum in any way. B ut Volition examines it in an intoxicatingly brisk and restless fashion that precisely fits all its puzzle pieces together.

The title alone will have you believe James’s fate is not yet written, as volition is a term that denotes decision-making and free will. When death knocks on our front door, we will be whisked away from this life. We will never know when, but perhaps not knowing when we die is better than knowing exactly when, as the fear of our predetermined death would wreak havoc in our insides, and we would stubbornly try to avert it. But if fate dictated our death, we wouldn’t be able to avert it. For James, he sees himself getting shot in the not-so-distant future. He knows death is approaching, and there’s a part of him that fears it and wants to change the outcome. Through his attempts to overcome death, a quintessential question lingers in the back of the viewer’s mind: is his future already sealed by fate?

“…James is tasked to transport a bag of blood diamonds worth millions in exchange for much-needed rent money.”

James’s affliction of clairvoyance can be traced back to childhood, where he knew his mother was going to die two days before the scarring incident. In present-day, to remember every future vision, James draws inextricable diagrams on the wall of his poky apartment. Soon enough, James has a future vision of a woman in distress a few feet away, and he saves the woman from a couple of virulent men. After being crowned a savior, James has another vision, which shows him that he’ll have a real relationship with Angela (a personable Magda Apanowicz), the woman he saved.

Short on cash, James takes money from one of the violent men’s wallet, and charms Angela with his unbridled charisma. But, the romance of Angela and James is cut short when gangster Ray (a versatile John Cassini) summons James for a potential job. James is tasked to transport a bag of blood diamonds worth millions in exchange for much-needed rent money.

The clairvoyant’s trek is by no means a bloodless journey as Ray’s associates Terry (Aleks Paunovic) and Sal (Frank Cassini) double-cross their boss and try to steal the diamonds for themselves, while James sees his murder. In a moment of haste and apprehension, James takes Angela with him as they evade the scheming goons. They end up at the home of James’s foster father, Elliot (a creepily composed Bill Marchant), where everything comes full circle, though neither James nor the audience knows that yet.

Volition (2020)

Directed: Tony Dean Smith

Written: Ryan W. Smith, Tony Dean Smith

Starring: Adrian Glynn McMorran, Magda Apanowicz, John Cassini, Frank Cassini, Aleks Paunovic, Bill Marchant, etc.

Movie score: 8/10

"…a serpentine sci-fi thriller that wrestles with the perennial conceptions of free will..."

The Complex

One way to keep an audience engaged with your movie is to make it interactive, and that’s precisely what Paul Raschid and Lynn Renee Maxcy do with their...

Join our Film Threat Newsletter

Big Picture Big Sound

Contact Us |
Shop With Us |

Where Movies and Technology Meet

Volition review.

Everyone laments the dearth of new and original cinematic content: everything is a sequel, adaptation, or a latest installment that keeps an eternal franchise under copyright. " Volition ," the directorial debut of Tony Dean Smith, takes a solid swing at giving us the original content we crave. There are no superheroes, no characters from a beloved children's book series-just James, (Adrian Glynn McMorrant, " The Revenant ") trying to make good on a chance encounter with Angela (Magda Apanowicz, You ). Never mind that this meeting sets off a layered narrative transcending time, exploring clairvoyance, and testing notions of fate.

Without spilling any key plot details, "Volition's" narrative structure turns over on itself in interesting ways. Ultimately, it tells a spare and self-contained story of pre-destination that's worth watching-albeit still rough around a few edges. Audiences jump right into James' life, his backstory unfolding as we go along. In some cases, possibly interesting aspects of his background are not explored enough, such as his past criminal dealings.

Occasionally "Volition" falls into the exposition trap, using it to introduce the more fine-grained details of its plot device MacGuffin. This starts to happen when the more science-fiction-heavy elements appear at the film's midpoint, and Smith offsets this by kicking the plot into a stakes-driven high gear. While this variable pacing lends tension to the film, there are times where it ends up just a bit uneven, and the ending feels too abrupt. It is also worth commenting that the narrative MacGuffin driving the back half of story is a bit eyebrow raising, but it wasn't overly distracting for me.

"Volition" features a small ensemble cast, with well-matched actors and performances. Leads McMorrant and Apanowicz, have enjoyable chemistry with each other, despite character circumstances that don't lend themselves to a traditional onscreen relationship. Frank Cassini ( Blackstone ) as Sal and Aleks Paunovic ( Snowpiercer ) as Terry project menace from their first frame and serve effectively as the heavies driving James towards his fate. Rounding out the cast are John Cassini ("A Dog's Way Home") as Ray, the architect of that last big score, and Bill Marchant ("Chappie") as Elliot, James's foster father. These actors are firmly in "where do I know them from??" territory, but everyone does a perfectly fine job with their material.

The one area of "Volition" that I struggled with was sound mixing and scoring. Matthew Roger's score is quite effective in setting and supporting the mood of the film, but there are a few moments where it wanders a bit into Hans Zimmer territory: thundering musical notes overwhelming all other sound. To be fair, this also amused me, given the Christopher Nolan vibes I got from "Volition." This movie lives in intimate dialogue; having to toggle on the closed captioning because the sound mix was making it hard to discern that dialogue was unfortunate.

Ultimately, "Volition" is a decent film that's not quite great. Yes, it will scratch that itch for original content, but it does borrow HEAVILY on themes and ideas that have been executed in other films. For example, there are definitely some moments where it feels like "the darkest timeline" version of "Back to the Future." But it is well put together, with effective mood and tone, and actors who deliver solid performances. I suspect it will be satisfying for those who enjoy pulpy, gritty sci-fi, and for anyone on the lookout for a decent thriller.

"Volition" is available starting July 10 on Apple TV, Prime Video, and other digital platforms.

What did you think?

Ask The Expert
Accessories
Blu-ray, DVD Players
DVD Recorders, DVR, PVR
HDTV, Televisions, Projectors
Home Theater in a Box (HTiB)
Media Players, HTPC
Preamps, Amps, Processors
Satellite Radio
Receivers, Switchers
Universal Remotes
News and Show Reports
Manufacturers
Blu-ray Disc and DVD
Blu-ray 3D Reviews
Blu-ray Disc Reviews
DVD Reviews
Sweepstakes
And more...
Shop With Us
View all articles

Newsletter Sign-up

Volition Movie Review

By: Author Eric Mortensen

Categories Movies , Review , Sci-Fi

Sci-fi has been arguably my favorite movie genre for my entire life. Inside of that genre I have always been a huge fan of time travel movies. I have always liked the premise behind time travel because it gives the potential for some really interesting story ideas. While there are some arguably bad time travel movies, I generally even enjoy those movies as they can still provide some silly fun. As I like the genre I was intrigued when I was given the opportunity to check out a screener for Volition . On the surface Volition is not really a time travel movie as the protagonist instead sees the future, but the movie seemed to have a lot of the elements that I enjoy about time travel movies. I was a little curious though as Volition is more of an indie movie as it had a much smaller budget than most movies made for this genre. At times Volition shows its smaller budget, but when you look past that you find a movie that has a clever twist on the formula that fans of the genre should really enjoy.

We would like to thank Giant Pictures, Paly Productions, and Smith Brothers Film Company for the screener of Volition used for this review. Other than receiving the screener we at Geeky Hobbies received no other compensation. Receiving the screener had no impact on the content of this review or the final score.

Volition is about a man named James Odin. When he was a kid his mother died in a tragic car accident. If that wasn’t bad enough James saw a vision of the accident two months earlier and tried to prevent it. Ever since that day James has thought his life was preordained and there was nothing that he could do to change his fate. As he felt like what he did in his life didn’t really matter he has been a sort of slacker for most of his life using his ability to make sports bets and commit other minor crimes. As others know of his ability he is roped into helping an acquaintance move millions of dollars worth of diamonds while avoiding the authorities. Everything seems to be going okay until James sees a vision of his own death. James must test his long held belief that his fate is fixed in order to try and save his own life.

Before getting into the rest of the review I want to say that I am not going to go into many specifics about the plot in order to avoid spoilers. For the most part Volition is a story about fate versus freewill. Based on his past experiences James believes that the world is dictated by fate where there is nothing that you can do to change your future. To save his own life though he needs to try and find a way to avoid the fate that he thinks is predetermined. I think this dichotomy between fate and freewill is done really well in the movie. As a matter of fact I think you could interpret the movie as supporting either stance as the movie does a good job maintaining that balance.

For the most part I really enjoyed Volition . I have always been a huge fan of time travel movies and Volition has many of the elements that I really enjoy about the genre. Volition is not quite a time travel movie as instead of traveling through time the protagonist can see the future. The movie still shares a lot in common with your typical time travel movie though. As he can see the future he tries to use this information in order to try and avoid his fate. Volition does a good job creating a twist on the typical formula. I am not going to get into the movie’s twist, but I think it really makes the movie. Things that seem a little off early in the movie make perfect sense once the twist is revealed. I found the twist to be a little predictable. I think the movie does a good job utilizing it though as it really makes the movie work. People who like this genre of time travel time movies should really enjoy Volition .

As I alluded to at the beginning of this review I was a little concerned that Volition was smaller budget film. I am not sure what the film’s budget was, but it is obvious that it wasn’t a blockbuster. The movie’s budget shows in the fact that the movie uses less locations and doesn’t include huge action scenes or many special effects. In fact outside of some car chases and some brief shootouts the movie isn’t filled with a ton of action. If you are looking for that type of movie you might be a little disappointed in Volition.

In a lot of ways the lower budget doesn’t really hurt the movie. It might not have a lot of over the top action sequences, but it pivots from that by focusing more on using the character’s ability in other ways. Without the larger budget the movie had to be more creative which helps the movie most of the time. Volition might not have the most well known cast as many of the actors are more known for television than blockbuster movies. Nonetheless I thought the acting in the movie was quite good. There are times in the movie where you can tell that the budget was limited, but the movie does the best that it can with it.

I enjoyed Volition and I think most fans of this genre will as well. I would say that my biggest complaint with the movie is that the pacing is a little off at times. The movie is 91 minutes long so it is not overly long. I could honestly have seen the movie being a little longer. There are a few points in the movie where it can be a little slow though. Most of these moments happen in the first half of the movie. There aren’t any parts that are overly long but a little editing here or there could have probably improved the movie some. After the twist is revealed the movie really picks up. I am kind of curious to see what the movie could have been if it had a larger budget as the premise is really good.

Volition is not a perfect movie as it shows its smaller budget at times. I was surprised by the movie though. I have always been a fan of the time travel genre and I thought Volition was an interesting twist on it. It is not your typical time travel movie as it is more about seeing the future, but it shares a lot in common with the genre. Volition may start a little slow, but it really starts to pick up once the twist is revealed. I think the movie is quite clever as you can tell that the story was well thought out. The acting is good and the movie does a good job utilizing its budget. I am kind of curious what the movie could have been though if it had a larger budget.

My recommendation for Volition mostly comes down to your opinion of sci-fi movies and time travel movies in general. If you don’t really care for the genre I don’t see Volition changing your mind. If you generally enjoy this genre of movies though I think you will really enjoy Volition and should consider watching it. While I ultimately ended up giving Volition a 3.5 out of 5 it was right on the cusp of getting a four out of five as I kept debating back and forth between the two ratings.

Volition will be released on Apple TV, Prime Video, and other digital services on July 10th, 2020.

Volition Movie Review

Written by Becky Roberts

Directed by Tony Dean Smith Written by Tony Dean Smith and Ryan W. Smith 2019, 91 minutes UK Premiere: 24th August 2019

Starring: Adrian Glynn McMorran as James Magda Apanowicz as Angela Bill Marchant as Elliott John Cassini as Ray Frank Cassini as Sal Aleks Paunovic as Terry

What would you do if you could see visions of the near future? Bet on the boxing? Create a winning Fantasy football team? Make money as a fortune teller?

Lone wolf grifter James (Adrian Glynn McMorran) uses his clairvoyance affliction to aid organized crimes that he can see will go smoothly. But when an illegal diamond handover goes wrong and he accidentally involves a girl (Magda Apanowicz) he's just met, James is forced to play with morality to try to change their seemingly dire fate.

A Timecrimes meets True Romance meets Looper sci-fi thriller, Volition delivers a tight and suspenseful plot that pitches the ‘a life by design’ concept against, as represented by its title, the challenging idea that one has the power and will to create their own course. James has seen his imminent death over and over, but while he is hunted down by mobsters (John Cassini, Frank Cassini and Aleks Paunovic) in the lead up to the fatal confrontation, can he find a way to domineer his own destiny?

A mind-meddling fusion of flashbacks, flash-forwards and multiple time zones, it's inherently messy – but it’s well organised and cleverly considered mess. And while there are examples in the genre of more sophisticated and complex executions of alternate timeframe narratives – the aforementioned Timecrimes , The Infinite Man , Primer … – Volition pulls off the ambitious looper narrative feat with a keen perception and commitment without trying to bite off more than it can chew, promising twists and turns and reveal after reveal until its climactic end.

Winner of the best feature award at The Philip K. Dick Film Festival, where it fittingly made its world premiere earlier this year, director Tony Dean Smith’s Canadian indie gem (written by him and his brother, Ryan W. Smith) thrives not only on an enthralling, fast-paced narrative but also on the chemistry of its two stars, McMorran and Apanowicz, who you’re compelled to root for from the get-go. A no lesser contribution from Bill Marchant as James’ foster father completes the all-Canadian cast.

With an attention-grabbing plot and all-round performances in the bag, Volition is a surefire 90 minutes of thrilling indie entertainment.

This page includes affiliate links where Horror DNA may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Becky Roberts
Frightfest 2019
Tony Dean Smith
Ryan W. Smith

OBEY - CONSUME

Hit the buttons below to follow us, you won't regret it...

Tickets & Showtimes
Trending on RT

TV & Streaming Shows
Godzilla & Kong
100 Years, 100 Movies
Best & Popular

Fallout First Reviews: A 'Violent, Fun, Emotional, Epic' Video Game Adaptation, Critics Say

Critics say prime video's new series benefits from strong storytelling, committed performances, and a deft balance of tone, making it one of the best video game adaptations ever..

TAGGED AS: First Reviews , streaming , television , TV

Fallout is the latest video game adaptation to hit the small screen. Created by Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Graham Wagner , and executive produced by Westworld ‘s Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy , the eight episode series, inspired by the hit game franchise from Bethesda Softworks drops on Wednesday, April 10 to Amazon Prime Video.

The post-apocalyptic series stars Ella Purnell as Lucy; Aaron Moten as Maximus; and Walton Goggins as The Ghoul. Joining them is an ensemble cast that includes Kyle MacLachlan , Sarita Choudhury , Michael Emerson , Leslie Uggams , Zach Cherry , Moises Arias and Johnny Pemberton , among others.

With nearly three decades of lore under its belt, the video game franchise has drawn a massive fanbase. Needless to say, there’s a lot of hype surrounding the new series. Does it live up to expectations? Here’s what critics are saying about Fallout :

How does it compare to the video games?

Prime Video’s TV adaptation of Fallout does something the games in the legendary franchise never have—put storytelling above all else. — Bernard Boo, Den of Geek

Fallout is the new standard for video game adaptations. This series is violent, fun, emotional, epic, and just plain awesome. — Alex Maidy, JoBlo’s Movie Network

Opting for a new narrative that simply takes place in the Fallout world, the series is a mix of adventure and puzzle-box mystery, with more than enough action scenes to satisfy the RPG faithful. It’s fun, and only occasionally overcomplicated. — Kelly Lawler, USA Today

Fallout takes the ideas of the games and crafts its own story in an already interesting world. Nails the satire, the wackiness, and about everything a fan could want. — Zach Pope, Zach Pope Reviews

Bodies fly, heads explode, and video game logic reigns triumphant. — Niv M. Sultan, Slant Magazine

How is the cast?

(Photo by Prime Video)

All of the performances are great; Purnell is a strong, loveably naive lead, while Moten delivers a fascinatingly, sort-of loathsome turn. Excusing the wonderful pooch that plays CX404, aka Four, Goggins is the runaway MVP, an agent of chilly, smooth-talking chaos somewhere between John Marston and Clarence Boddicker. — Cameron Frew, Dexerto

“I hate it up here,” Lucy mutters early on, and given the horrors to which she’s subjected, nobody could blame her. Yet her quest not only involves no shortage of carnage but also insights into her community and its origins, as well as encounters (some relatively brief) with a strong array of co-stars, including Moisés Arias, Kyle MacLachlan, Sarita Choudhury, Michael Emerson, and Leslie Uggams. — Brian Lowry, CNN

The Ghoul serves as the perfect foil for Lucy and Maximus, with Goggins deploying megatons’ worth of weary charisma in his performance as Fallout’ s resident lone wolf, black hat archetype. — Belen Edwards, Mashable

Emancipation’s Aaron Moten and And Just Like That… standout Sarita Choudhury nail the determined, world-weary drive that propels their characters forward while Justified’ s Walton Goggins gives one of his best performances yet as Cooper Howard, a mutated ghoul of a gunslinger who gives everyone a hard time with biting quips and searing bullet work. — David Opie, Digital Spy

How’s the writing and world-building?

The show’s creators have done such an impeccable job fleshing out the world of Fallout that it feels like the characters are treading stories and quests you’ve experienced yourself in one way or another. — Tanner Dedmon, ComicBook.com

Story-wise, Fallout smartly eschews trying to adapt specific storylines or side-quests from any of the games, but rather concocts a new one set in the rich and familiar landscape. — Brian Lloyd, entertainment.ie

There are plenty of Easter eggs, as you might expect from a video game adaptation, but Fallout manages to make them seem like part of the world, too. It all feels real and believable as pieces of a whole existence that these people have scraped together, which goes a long way toward helping the show’s humor land. Even the Easter eggs feel carefully designed to fit into the world and the lives of the characters, rather than drawing focus away from them or sticking out as a glaring distraction. — Austen Goslin, Polygon

Do the violence and humor work?

It’s strong, it’s goddamn hilarious, and it highlights exactly how to swing for the fences while still knowing where Homebase is. It may be a new series, but Fallout is an instant classic of the streaming age. — Kate Sánchez, But Why Tho? A Geek Community

A bright and funny apocalypse filled with dark punchlines and bursts of ultra-violence, Fallout is among the best video game adaptations ever made. — Matt Purslow, IGN Movies

Finding a tonal balance between the drama and the comedy is a razor’s edge, but Fallout makes it look effortless. As a result, spending time in this hardened world is as fun, engaging, and engrossing as the games. — William Goodman, TheWrap

It’s an equal parts funny and nightmarish show that, like its protagonist, isn’t content to live inside a projection of the past. — Kambole Campbell, Empire Magazine

Crucially, these laugh-out-loud moments of disbelief don’t detract from the harsh reality of this world, which is perhaps even more violent than you might expect, especially for newbies to this franchise. — David Opie, Digital Spy

Any final thoughts?

Fallout is a clever, twisted apocalyptic odyssey that soars as both a video game adaptation and a standalone series. — Lauren Coates, The Spool

For those who have never played the Fallout series, especially those of the time-strapped ilk who can’t just pour hundreds of hours into a game, they should give Prime Video’s Fallout a go. — Howard Waldstein, CBR

Fallout is both totally rad and an absolute blast. — Neil Armstrong, BBC.com

The show’s clearly committed to being the definitive Fallout adaptation, a love letter to fans, no question, while still opening the vault door to welcome in just about everyone else brave enough to step inside. — Jon Negroni, TV Line

There’s really nothing like Fallout on television right now, and that’s ultimately a good thing. — Therese Lacson, Collider

Thumbnail image by Amazon Studios. On an Apple device? Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Apple News .

Related News

Fallout : What It Gets Right, and What It Gets Wrong

Renewed and Cancelled TV Shows 2024

TV Premiere Dates 2024

CinemaCon 2024: Day 3 – Disney Previews Deadpool & Wolverine , Moana 2 , Alien: Romulus , and More

Movie & TV News

Featured on rt.

April 12, 2024

April 11, 2024

Top Headlines

Best Movies of 2024: Best New Movies to Watch Now –
25 Most Popular TV Shows Right Now: What to Watch on Streaming –
30 Most Popular Movies Right Now: What to Watch In Theaters and Streaming –
Best Horror Movies of 2024 Ranked – New Scary Movies to Watch –
Box Office 2024: Top 10 Movies of the Year –
Best TV Shows of 2024: Best New Series to Watch Now –

Share full article

Supported by

Michelle Goldberg

‘Civil War’ and Its Terrifying Premonition of American Collapse

A close-up of a broken window, with what looks like a bullet hole in it.

By Michelle Goldberg

Opinion Columnist

Going into Alex Garland’s astonishing new film, “Civil War,” I expected to be irritated by the implausibility of its premise. I’m not talking about the idea that America could devolve into vicious internecine armed conflict. That seems possible, if not probable. In one 2022 poll , 43 percent of Americans said they thought a civil war within the next decade was at least somewhat likely. I wouldn’t go that far, but I won’t be surprised if political violence spikes after the upcoming election and eventually spirals out of control. I’m pretty confident, however, that if the sort of war Garland depicts ever actually broke out in this beleaguered nation, California and Texas wouldn’t be on the same side.

“Civil War” has received plenty of adulatory reviews, but Garland has also been widely criticized for eliding the ideological forces driving America’s fracturing. He’s repeatedly spoken about the dangers of polarization, a bit of a cop-out, given that only one American political party has leaders who lionize violent insurrection. This month A24, the powerhouse indie production company behind “Civil War,” released a map of the film’s fictional divisions on social media, under the hokey caption “Pledge your allegiance.” It showed an America split among the Loyalist States, stretching from the East Coast through the center of the country; the southern Florida Alliance; the secessionist Western Forces of California and Texas; and the New People’s Army of the northwest, which sounds vaguely Maoist.

This suggested a fictional universe in which far-right militias and antifa groups pose comparable threats, an impression strengthened by some of Garland’s comments at South by Southwest, the Austin, Texas, cultural festival where “Civil War” debuted . “I have a political position, and I have good friends on the other side of that political divide,” he said . “Honestly, I’m not trying to be cute. What’s so hard about that?” The obvious answer is that friendly disagreement between left and right is possible on some issues but not others; there’s no fruitful debate to be had about, for example, whether migrants are “poisoning the blood” of our country. Garland’s No Labels-style denunciation of extremism in general — as opposed to the particular kind of extremism behind America’s most deadly recent political violence — seemed to me a little glib and cynical, as if he wanted to make a hugely provocative movie but not risk offending potential audiences. If you’re going to dramatize many of our worst fears about the trajectory of American politics, I thought you should take the substance of those politics seriously.

But now that I’ve seen “Civil War,” which is neither glib nor cynical, Garland’s decision to keep the film’s politics a little ambiguous seems like a source of its power. The emphasis here should be on “a little” because, contrary to some of what I’d read, its values aren’t inscrutable, just lightly worn. Yes, there is a reference, early on, to “Portland Maoists.” We learn that the film’s heroine, a valiant, traumatized combat photographer named Lee, is famous for shooting the “antifa massacre,” but we never find out if antifa members were the perpetrators or victims. Still, it’s not a stretch to interpret the film as a premonition of how a seething, entropic country could collapse under the weight of Donald Trump’s return.

As “Civil War” opens, America’s third-term president — a man who will later be compared to Benito Mussolini, Nicolae Ceausescu and Muammar el-Qaddafi — is practicing a blustering speech. “We are now closer than we have ever been to victory,” he says, falsely, adding, “Some are already calling it the greatest victory in the history of mankind.” Nick Offerman, who plays the president, doesn’t imitate Trump’s mannerisms, but the phrasing — the absurd, mendacious hyperbole attributed to nameless third parties — is extremely familiar. Soon after this scene, a journalist imagines asking him if, in retrospect, disbanding the F.B.I. was a mistake.

The action in “Civil War” is driven by Lee and her colleagues’ quest to make it from New York to Washington, D.C., to capture the president’s overthrow by rapidly advancing rebel forces. (The front line, in a resonant note, is in Charlottesville, Va.) In the film’s most gutting scene, a paramilitary soldier filling a mass grave asks each of the journalists where they’re from. Lee is from Colorado, and a younger reporter whom she’s reluctantly taken on as a protégée is from Missouri. To the soldier, these women, who are, like him, both white, are the right kind of American. Others in their party don’t qualify.

Given this setup, the ideological indeterminacy of the rebels helps the movie avoid seeming schematic or didactic. “Civil War” is an antiwar war movie; you’re not supposed to root for anyone except the journalists witnessing it. Part of what makes it so searing, though, is that aside from its unlikely California-Texas alliance, its story doesn’t require too much explanation to make sense. Garland has said that the dynamics depicted in “Civil War” aren’t specific to America, but had he attempted a similar movie about his native England, a lot more narrative scaffolding would have been required to show how citizens turned fratricidal, not to mention where all the heavy weapons came from. In America, you need less signposting on the route from our uneasy present to an imagined implosion. The movie’s refugee camps don’t look all that different from the tent encampments in many American cities. The paramilitary guy, in his fatigues and goofy red sunglasses, could easily be a Boogaloo Boi or an Oath Keeper. The culminating battle in the capital is a more intense version of scenes we witnessed on Jan. 6.

Early in the movie Lee says, “Every time I survived a war zone and got the photo, I thought I was sending a warning home: Don’t do this.” “Civil War” works as a similar sort of warning. It’s close enough to where America is right now that we don’t need Garland to fill in all the blanks.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , WhatsApp , X and Threads .

Michelle Goldberg has been an Opinion columnist since 2017. She is the author of several books about politics, religion and women’s rights, and was part of a team that won a Pulitzer Prize for public service in 2018 for reporting on workplace sexual harassment.

The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News

Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter

site categories

‘fallout’ review: amazon video game adaptation from ‘westworld’ creators is heavy on vibes, light on narrative stakes.

Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy's show follows an idealist, a soldier and a bounty hunter across Los Angeles two centuries after a nuclear apocalypse.

By Angie Han

Television Critic

Share this article on Facebook
Share this article on Twitter
Share this article on Flipboard
Share this article on Email
Show additional share options
Share this article on Linkedin
Share this article on Pinit
Share this article on Reddit
Share this article on Tumblr
Share this article on Whatsapp
Share this article on Print
Share this article on Comment

Fallout First Look, Ella Purnell as Lucy

After a particularly harrowing setback to his mission in The Fallout , the new series from Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy ( Westworld ), a bounty hunter known as The Ghoul ( Walton Goggins ) makes the executive decision to change course entirely. Although his less experienced traveling companion/prisoner protests, The Ghoul knows better. “The wasteland’s got its own golden rule,” he snarls. “Thou shalt get sidetracked by bullshit every time.”

THR Newsletters

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Dua lipa set as ‘snl’ host and musical guest in may, ryan gosling makes emily blunt (jokingly) angry for singing about ken again during ‘snl’ monologue, a palm beach ‘bridgerton’: ‘palm royale’ production designer on one-upping those ball scenes, confessions of a hollywood screenwriter: brit marling’s secrets of success, ‘golden bachelor’ couple to divorce three months after televised abc wedding, reese witherspoon questions if careers like hers and jennifer aniston’s are “possible ever again” with streaming.

IMAGES

Volition
Full Trailer for Award-Winning, Time-Bending Sci-Fi Thriller 'Volition
Volition (Review) A life lead with one eye on the future…
Volition (2020) Review
Volition Indie / B-Movie Review
Movie Review: “VOLITION” is a welcome vision of marshaling one’s fate

VIDEO

VOLITION 2024
🎥 VOLITION (2019)
MALAIKOTTAI VAALIBAN Movie Review
Volition Inc. (2009)
The End of Volition
Volition

COMMENTS

Volition movie review & film summary (2020)
Volition. The uninspiring time travel thriller "Volition" begins with windshield wipers moving in slow-motion across a dark, rainy windshield. James Odin ( Adrian Glynn McMorran ), a hard-living clairvoyant, speaks: "They say when you die, your whole life flashes before your eyes.". A few excruciating seconds pass; the wipers wipe.
Volition
Audience Reviews for Volition. There are no featured audience reviews for Volition at this time. See All Audience Reviews Movie & TV guides View All. Play Daily Tomato Movie Trivia ...
'Volition': Film Review
'Volition': Film Review Reviewed online, San Francisco, July 6, 2020. Running time: 92 MIN. Production: (Canada) A Giant Pictures release of a Paly Productions, Smith Brothers Film Company ...
Volition
An overly ambitious film that largely manages to meet its lofty goals despite a shaky foundation. Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Jul 16, 2020. Emilie Black Cinema Crazed. The film works ...
'Volition': Film Review
A clairvoyant man experiences a vision of his imminent murder in Tony Dean Smith's time-bending sci-fi thriller 'Volition.'. "They say that when you die, your whole life flashes before your eyes ...
Volition review
Summary. A sci-fi film noir about the implications of knowing the future, and the motivation to change it. Tense, sharply written, and a very satisfying watch. When James (Adrian Glynn McMorran) was small, he foresaw the death of his mother and was unable to prevent it. As a result, he grew up believing that it makes no difference what he does ...
'Volition' review: A tasty sci-fi riff on a classic 2000s music video
Inverse Reviews. Volition is a tasty ... At the same time, if you like high-concept sci-fi but find Christopher Nolan's movies a bit overwrought, Volition is a breath of fresh air.
Volition
1 h 31 m. Summary A man afflicted with clairvoyance tries to change his fate when a series of events leads to a vision of his own imminent murder. Sci-Fi. Thriller. Directed By: Tony Dean Smith. Written By: Ryan W. Smith, Tony Dean Smith. Volition. Metascore Generally Favorable. 62.
Movie Review: Volition (2019)
Although the story doesn't quite hold together, our circular trip through Jimmy's life does enough to keep us in our seats. At 91 minutes, the shuttling pace of Volition is ultimately worth the ride, but only the once. Unlike its hero, looping reruns aren't in its destiny. Critical Movie Critic Rating: 3. Movie Review: The Barge People (2018)
'Volition': Film Review
Snarled loops of time travel have proved a surprisingly versatile and rewarding fantasy-cinema trope in recent years, from the big-budget likes of "Edge of Tomorrow" to such enterprising ...
Movie Review: Seeing the future, trying to change it of your own "Volition"
The midway point in the low-budget sci-fi thriller "Volition" is a real make-or-break moment. It's there that this film about a clairvoyant who tries to avert the doom he sees in his future takes a turn and adds on baggage. Midway is where director and co-writer (with his brother Ryan) Tony Dean Smith decides to graft on a second sci-fi ...
Volition
'Volition': This crime story elevates into a science-fiction mind-bender Directed by: Tony Dean Smith Written by: Tony Dean Smith and Ryan W. Smith Starring: Adrian Glynn McMorran, Magda Apanowicz, John Cassini, Frank Cassini, Aleks Paunovic, and Bill M
Volition
Read the full review and screenwriter interview from Victims and Villains now! Mental Health Resource Library V&V Podcast Network ... Film Festival; Film Reviews; Graphic Novel Review; Interview; Manga Reviews; Music Review; News; Reflection; Retrospective; Top Ten; TV Review; July 7, 2020. Josh Burkey. Film Reviews. Volition | Review ...
Volition Featured, Reviews Film Threat
Volition is a serpentine sci-fi thriller that wrestles with the perennial conceptions of free will and destiny. As seen in Jaco Van Dormael's Mr. Nobody and Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange, the discourse on free will isn't a new conundrum in any way. But Volition examines it in an intoxicatingly brisk and restless fashion that ...
Volition (2019)
At the time I watched this the average score is 5.4, but this can happen when there are so few reviews. I'm sure this will rise when more people who've actually seen the movie give it a score. The movie is interesting all the way through, and gradually cranks up the complication as the story develops.
Everything You Need to Know About Volition Movie (2020)
Volition was a Limited release in 2020 on Friday, July 10, 2020. There were 11 other movies released on the same date, including Greyhound, Shirley and Relic. As a Limited release, Volition will only be shown in select movie theaters across major markets. Please check Fandango and Atom Tickets to see if the film is playing in your area.
Volition Movie Review:
Ultimately, "Volition" is a decent film that's not quite great. Yes, it will scratch that itch for original content, but it does borrow HEAVILY on themes and ideas that have been executed in other films. For example, there are definitely some moments where it feels like "the darkest timeline" version of "Back to the Future." But it is well put ...
Volition Movie Review
At times Volition shows its smaller budget, but when you look past that you find a movie that has a clever twist on the formula that fans of the genre should really enjoy. We would like to thank Giant Pictures, Paly Productions, and Smith Brothers Film Company for the screener of Volition used for this review. Other than receiving the screener ...
Volition (film)
Volition is a 2019 Canadian science fiction thriller film written by Tony and Ryan W. Smith and directed by Tony Dean Smith. The film stars Adrian Glynn McMorran, Magda Apanowicz, John Cassini, Frank Cassini, Aleks Paunovic, and Bill Marchant. [1] The film premiered at the 2019 Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival.
Volition (2019)
Summary: Clairvoyant visions propel a desperate man through a time traveling trip to prevent his death at the hands of thieves. Synopsis : Review: Very little flab can be found on "Volition," an otherwise nimble thriller from director Tony Dean Smith and his co-writer brother Ryan W. Smith. All of that fluff can be found in the first act.
Volition
Volition Movie Review. Written by Becky Roberts. Directed by Tony Dean Smith Written by Tony Dean Smith and Ryan W. Smith 2019, 91 minutes UK Premiere: 24th August 2019. ... - Volition pulls off the ambitious looper narrative feat with a keen perception and commitment without trying to bite off more than it can chew, ...
VOLITION (Official Trailer)
Buy Now! apple.co/2XvzKBr -- In this time-bending cerebral science-fiction thriller, a man afflicted with clairvoyance tries to change his fate when a series of events leads to a vision of his own imminent murder. Awarded as BEST FEATURE at the Philip K. Dick Film Festival, among a slew of other awards and critical acclaim, VOLITION is a tightly-wound puzzle of a ride.
Fallout First Reviews: A 'Violent, Fun, Emotional, Epic' Video Game
Prime Video's TV adaptation of Fallout does something the games in the legendary franchise never have—put storytelling above all else. — Bernard Boo, Den of Geek Fallout is the new standard for video game adaptations. This series is violent, fun, emotional, epic, and just plain awesome. — Alex Maidy, JoBlo's Movie Network Opting for a new narrative that simply takes place in the ...
'Civil War' and Its Terrifying Premonition of American Collapse
The action in "Civil War" is driven by Lee and her colleagues' quest to make it from New York to Washington, D.C., to capture the president's overthrow by rapidly advancing rebel forces ...
'Fallout' Review: Amazon's Vibey Video Game Adaptation Lacks Stakes
'Fallout' Review: Amazon Video Game Adaptation From 'Westworld' Creators Is Heavy on Vibes, Light on Narrative Stakes. Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy's show follows an idealist, a soldier and ...

Movie Reviews

Simon Abrams

Now playing

Matt Zoller Seitz

Dad & Step-Dad

Peyton Robinson

A Bit of Light

State of Consciousness

Film Credits

Volition (2020)

Cinematographer

Latest blog posts

Until It’s Too Late: Bertrand Bonello on The Beast

O.J. Simpson Dies: The Rise & Fall of A Superstar

Which Cannes Film Will Win the Palme d’Or? Let’s Rank Their Chances

Second Sight Drops 4K Releases for Excellent Films by Brandon Cronenberg, Jeremy Saulnier, and Alexandre Aja

‘Volition’: Film Review

Dennis Harvey

Popular on Variety

Reviewed online, San Francisco, July 6, 2020. Running time: 92 MIN.

More From Our Brands

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Email not verified

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

Movies / TV

Volition Reviews

Volition review – one to watch twice, to give it all the attention it deserves

Article by Alix Turner

The Other Black Girl Season 1 Review - A well-written, thrilling mystery

Pantheon season 1, episode 1 recap – the premiere explained

Volition is a tasty sci-fi riff on an all-time classic music video

Where to Watch

Magda Apanowicz

John Cassini

Aleks Paunovic

Blu Mankuma

User Reviews

Related Movies

Metropolis (re-release)

The Bride of Frankenstein

Hard to Be a God

Solaris (1972)

Invasion of the Body Snatchers

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

Frankenstein

Mad Max: Fury Road

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

It's Such a Beautiful Day

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Poor Things

Black Panther

The Invisible Man

2024 Movie Release Calendar

April Movie Preview (2024)

DVD/Blu-ray Releases: New & Upcoming

SXSW 2024 Recap: Best and Worst Films

Every Denis Villeneuve Movie, Ranked

Movie Review: Volition (2019)

Entertainment

New on Yahoo

‘Volition’: Film Review

Recommended Stories

UFC 300: Max Holloway takes 'BMF' title with one of the wildest KOs in MMA history

'Sasquatch Sunset' is so relentlessly gross that people are walking out of screenings. Star Jesse Eisenberg says the film was a ‘labor of love.’

76ers' statue for Allen Iverson draws jokes, outrage due to misunderstanding: 'That was disrespectful'

UFC 300: Kayla Harrison introduces herself to UFC fans with utter domination of Holly Holm

Masters: Augusta National asked Jason Day to take off billboard sweater

Travis Kelce receives his University of Cincinnati diploma, chugs a beer on stage

UFC 300: Kayla Harrison makes weight before bantamweight bout versus Holly Holm

2025 Toyota 4Runner (finally!) revealed, and the new Trailhunter is extremely cool

NBA Playoff Picture: Key games, tiebreakers and everything at stake on the season's final day

Movie Review: Seeing the future, trying to change it of your own “Volition”

Share this:

About Roger Moore

Find a Movie Review

Recent Reviews/Stories

Follow Movie Nation by email

Blogs I Follow

RSS Feeds — subscribe, or else