Ultrasound, the first full-length feature film from Director Rob Schroeder, is a science fiction thriller following a man who finds himself in a strange couple’s house after his car breaks down. Glen (Vincent Kartheiser) seems to be a tentative, disconnected man. When the older husband, Art (Bob Stephenson) in this “couple” tells him he should stay the night, Glen agrees. When the husband suggests he sleep with his wife, Cyndi (Chelsea Lopez) after some resistance, Glen agrees. What follows is a twisty story of various pregnancies, warped memories, and psychological manipulation that shakes the reality of all the characters involved. Soon, no one can trust their memory, or even themselves. A married politician and his secret girlfriend intersect into the story, somehow connected to Art. There are also two mysterious researchers, Shannon (played by Breeda Wool) and Dr. Conners (played by Tunde Adebimpe), who become involved in Glen’s increasingly bizarre situation with Art and Cyndi.
The film itself is based on a series of four comic books by Conor Stechschulte, who also wrote the screenplay, and its basis on a comic book series makes sense. It’s a high concept film that operates with big ideas in clever ways but does not fully unfold the potential of its plot in more nuanced and paced ways when applied to a feature length film. The film ambitiously takes on questions of memory, psychological disruption and manipulation, and a continuous recalibration of reality. Similar to the great, perfectly-constructed 2013 sci-fi, mind-bending thrillerCoherence, Ultrasound takes various turns in its plot that shake the assumptions and reality of the characters and the viewers. We start with a simple introduction, and new information and reveals confound us, then expose new layers of reality within the film’s world. The rules change and expand. Hints left earlier in the film are returned to. The film does a nice job at keeping the viewer engaged. The first third is enigmatic and mysterious, while the rest of the film consistently surprises us. The introduction of the researchers raises the stakes of the story and the potential impact of Glen’s memories being twisted.
However, films likeCoherence, or even Predestination and Enemy, have a fuller and complete narrative, in their style/tone, structures and emotional arcs than what Ultrasound ultimately accomplishes. The film does play with some fascinating ideas and character suggestions. Glen is suggestible and lost in himself; Cyndi is stronger than she initially appears; Shannon has more empathy and resistance in her than one would initially assume. Art is a manipulator who is battling his own fears. It also explores ideas around memory, trauma, gaslighting and scientific/governmental manipulation. However, the ideas and arcs do not reach their full potential. The climax and conclusion, while engaging, do not fully play out. The interesting murkiness and mystery of the film reveals a clear explanation. This reveal is complicated by more twists and turns, and layers of questioned reality, but the characters’ arcs are not as complete as they could be. The danger suggested by secretive research and military contracts leads to no clear implications. The politician’s plotline, while important as a plot device, and social/political commentary, detracts somewhat from the main arc. The occasionally chopped up editing sometimes works to unsettle us, and other times muddles the scenes.
Ultimately, Ultrasound is an engaging and unsettling psychological, sci-fi thriller, which keeps the viewer on their toes, and surprises them with unexpected turns. The fundamental and very unsettling disruption of perspective, reality and the viewer’s and characters’ own memories makes for a fun and refreshing viewing experience, even if the characters’ emotional arcs are not complete.
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