Entertainment Blog #379 | Predestination [2014] : I, Him & Her...

When it comes to #time-travel thrillers, especially ones that don’t copy the usual Hollywood formulas, Predestination really stands out. It’s the kind of sci-fi film that feels familiar yet refuses to give you easy answers. The movie blends mind-bending paradoxes with unexpected emotional weight, exploring themes like identity, destiny, and causality in ways most blockbusters won’t even attempt.

“Predestination” is a #sci-fi #thriller #movie from 2014, written and directed by Michael and Peter Spierig. It’s an adaptation of Robert A. Heinlein's 1959 short story “All You Zombies.” The film stars Ethan Hawke as a time-traveling temporal agent and Sarah Snook in a breakthrough role as a complex character whose life becomes central to the mission. It also features Noah Taylor in a supporting role. The movie premiered at festivals and was later released internationally, including in the United States in early 2015.

The story begins with a secret agent on his final mission. He works for a secretive government organization that sends him across different points in time to prevent crimes before they happen. His latest assignment is to catch the unidentified “Fizzle Bomber,” a terrorist responsible for a series of destructive attacks. To move forward with the mission, he goes undercover as a bartender in the 1970s, hoping to track down clues about the bomber’s identity.

While working at the bar, the agent meets John, a fascinating yet troubled person who shares his life story. John’s past is filled with confusion, transformation, and loss. The conversation between the agent and John becomes a crucial part of the story, revealing personal struggles that tie directly into the mission in ways neither character expects. As time loops and revelations unfold, the plot starts to twist in unpredictable directions that redefine everything you thought you understood.

There’s some social context here, too. Time travel films often reflect deeper questions about control, identity, and individual purpose, and Predestination does that by blending science fiction with questions about how people see themselves and how society labels them. The main character’s personal history touches on themes of gender and self-understanding, making the narrative feel more grounded and emotionally agitating than a typical sci-fi action story.

In terms of industry metrics, Predestination was made on an estimated budget of around $5 million and grossed about $4.8 million worldwide, making it more of a modest performer than a blockbuster. On review aggregator sites, it holds a strong 84 % critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 69/100 on Metacritic, with many reviewers praising its clever execution and strong performances, especially from Sarah Snook. Critics often describe it as a twisty, intelligent sci-fi ride that rewards attention and repeat viewing.

So will the temporal agent succeed in preventing the Fizzle Bomber’s devastation? Can time travel really change fate, or just loop back on itself? And how does one person’s identity survive when their life is constantly rewritten? It’s up to you to find out.