Bobby Patterson (Michael Reed) and Jules Rable (Augie Duke) have recently hit a rough patch in their relationship and decide to take a romantic weekend vacation away to the island of Big Grove to rekindle and rediscover their love. Even though they try not to think about their most recent fight, the incident is definitely still simmering beneath the surface, especially for Jules, who even packed a letter containing all of the things she wanted to say to Bobby about the topic. However, they try to forget that for the moment and just enjoy their beautiful new location.
Bobby had come to this island a lot as a kid, but he hasn’t been back in a while, and so his memories of this place have faded a bit. As the couple make their way towards their B&B, Bobby and Jules can’t help but notice how oddly abandoned the island seems—they don’t really see anyone else walking around despite it being prime winter tourism season. When they arrive at the picturesque Cozy Nook, they meet the odd and slightly creepy proprietor Gene (Armen Garo). He informs them that there are no more ferries off the island for the rest of the weekend due to it being the anniversary of a horrible incident on the island—though Gene doesn’t offer any specific details as to what happened. This is also why the island is so deserted. However, Gene tells the happy couple not to worry about the ferry, because “after spending one day in Big Grove, most people say they just can’t leave.” And so, Bobby and Jules decide to make the best of it, and head out for some sightseeing.
The day seems to be going great, with the couple enjoying themselves and expressing their love for one another. But their happy moment is suddenly interrupted by a Shadowy Figure (Joshua Matthew Smith) who turns their day into a nightmare. And for Bobby, this is a nightmare that is going to repeat itself over and over again. Each morning at 6:54am, the alarm in the room goes off, but Bobby is the only one with a sense of deja vu, knowingly re-living the same day over and over again. He is determined to save Jules, and make sure they get their happily-ever-after. But no matter what he does to try to prevent the day’s events from playing out the same, things always come back to the same deadly conclusion. Bobby believes that the mystery event that occurred on the island is somehow related to what he’s now experiencing, and tries to get more information. Can he find some way to break out of this time loop so he and Jules can move on to the next stage of their relationship, or is he doomed to repeat this horrible day forever?
While Bobby starts each day off with an annoying alarm clock, 6:45 isn’t your fun, quirky Groundhog Day scenario. The film goes for more of a thriller-horror vibe, but without the comedy of a Happy Death Day. Bobby’s day always ends in death and despair, so each time through the loop it is literally a matter of life and death as he desperately looks for a way to break the cycle. When we first see Bobby and Jules, they appear to be a happy couple on a romantic weekend away, but it quickly becomes clear that they have some buried issues they need to overcome. As they step off the Ferry, Jules mentions the fight the couple had just before the trip, and later the letter she wrote for Bobby. She came prepared to try to resolve their problems this weekend, even if Bobby doesn’t want to talk about them. Meanwhile, we also get evidence of Bobby’s vices—when they visit a pub for lunch, they both skip the alcohol, and when a stranger starts to harass them, Jules remarks at Bobby’s surprising ability to maintain his composure and keep calm. He has apparently been successfully working through some alcohol and/or anger management issues. However, as the time loop days progress, Bobby gets more and more frustrated with his inability to control the situation, and starts to regress, getting angrier and more unhinged. Not helping the situation is B&B owner Gene, who doesn’t really seem that concerned about hygiene or the cleanliness of the establishment, is cryptic when asked about the island, and likes to linger around the couple’s door as they get intimate, under the guide of checking in to see if they need anything.
For the most part, the film plays out like a straightforward time loop movie (though a very tense and creepy one), with the same events happening over and over again as Bobby tries to alter and manipulate things in hopes of changing the outcome. But as soon as Jules ominously remarks “I wish it could last forever” in regards to their perfect day, and Bobby sees a flock of birds overhead, he knows that it’s already too late. I found this to be executed quite well, changing enough each time around to keep things interesting and not just feel repetitive. Though sometimes it felt like we saw several days worth of Bobby’s attempts, only to have the title card come up to reveal a single day had passed. The film does a nice job of building the tension through the use of lighting, an unnerving score, and the really creepy Shadow Figure, whose face is often blurred. For the first two-thirds of the film, the movie is presented in straightforward style, but as Bobby starts to get unhinged and his secrets start to weigh on him, things break out into several boxes across the screen with different things happening at the same time. There’s one creative continuous shot that weaves backwards winding through the different levels and rooms of the B&B on one side of the screen, while Bobby makes some revelations on the other. The story ultimately builds to an exciting twist, though perhaps predictable for some. I personally found this turn of events to be somewhat creative and thought-provoking in a Twilight Zone sort of way, though I could also see it as being a bit divisive with some viewers.
Well Go’s Blu-ray looks and sounds quite good. The picture looks very crisp and clean, with a solid level of detail. The bright beachside locale looks beautiful both in the daytime as well as when things get darker and the couple faces another creepy encounter with the Shadow Figure. There are a couple scenes where the bright sun slightly washes out the faces, but it felt like this was more of a stylistic choice. The audio track provides clear dialogue, and whenever Jules says her ominous line about how she wishes the day could last forever, the booming score kicks in, and an unsettling cacophony of sound bounces around the room as the viewer nervously awaits the return of the Shadow Figure.
The disc comes packed in a locking HD keepcase with a cardboard slipcover. Unfortunately the disc is barebones when it comes to bonus material, only including the film’s trailer along with some previews for some other Well Go releases.
What’s Included:
Film: (1:35:42)
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Blu-ray:
- 1080p / Widescreen 2.39:1
- Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, English Stereo
- Subtitles: English SDH
Extras:
All remaining trailers play back-to-back after starting playback for one item.
- Trailer (1:40)
- Previews
- The Long Night (2:05)
- Unwelcome (2:19)
- Project Gemini (1:50)
Final Thoughts:
I found 6:45 to be a solid thriller-horror with a creative time loop bend to it. While time loop films tend to go for a more humorous take, this film plays it straight and does a nice job of ratcheting up the tension, building to a twist that I quite enjoyed. Well Go’s Blu-ray release features solid picture and sound, but is lacking in bonus material. The release is definitely worth a look for fans of the genre.
6:45 [Blu-ray]
$11.99 (as of November 1, 2024 06:22 GMT -05:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
6:45
$9.99 $9.95 (as of November 1, 2024 06:22 GMT -05:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
