Life Tracker

Life Tracker is a captivating and thought-provoking independent sci-fi drama movie from 2013, directed by Joe McClean. The star-studded cast includes Matt Dallas, famous for his role in the television show Kyle XY, as well as Rebecca Marshall from Saw 3D and Barry Finnegan, who is best known for his work in Insidious: Chapter 3.

The premise of Life Tracker is firmly planted in a not-so-distant and plausible future. The narrative revolves around the advent of an incredible technology, developed by a company known as Life Tracker Limited. This controversial technology has the capacity to predict a person's entire life: their health, wealth, love life, and even the date of their eventual death. It accomplishes this feat by analyzing DNA data. This audacious premise serves as the launching pad for an intricately woven narrative that explores weighty themes, including destiny, mortality, ethics involved in future tech, and the existential dilemmas that arise from knowing too much about one's own fate.

The plot primarily focuses on three characters: Dillon (Matt Dallas), his best friend Scott (Barry Finnegan), and his girlfriend Bell (Rebecca Marshall). Dillon is an ambitious and struggling filmmaker, a keen observer of people and life. When the Life Tracker technology emerges, he sees a unique potential to explore this new tech societally, ideologically, and personally through the medium of his filmmaking. Scott, on the other hand, is the jovial, adventurous yin to sober-minded Dillon's yang, providing comical interludes and a grounded perspective amidst the story's profound and philosophical dilemmas.

Bell, Dillon's girlfriend, is a beautiful and ambitious woman. She also happens to be a newscaster for the local news station, adding another layer of complexity to the trio's exploration of Life Tracker's implications.

As news of the groundbreaking technology spreads, society becomes divided into two camps: one that embraces the predictive prowess of Life Tracker and views it as a tool for ultimate peace of mind, and another that sees it as a threat to human privacy and free will. These societal tensions mirror in the personal relationships of the trio, creating flammable situations and bringing their differing viewpoints on Life Tracker disturbingly close to home.

The film successfully intertwines these personal narratives with broader societal issues, giving viewers an intricate and moving depiction of how such a potent scientific discovery could dramatically impact individuals and larger groups.

Joe McClean’s direction is strong, steering the film powerfully despite its low budget. His storytelling doesn't simply present the theme of knowing one's destiny as a pure sci-fi trope but drives it into more personal, emotional, and ethical depths. The potent narrative, combined with great performances, visually compelling cinematography, and ultrasound design, create a completely immersive experience for the viewers—one where they can truly feel and reflect upon the full weight of Life Tracker's implications.

Matt Dallas gives a praiseworthy performance as Dillon, carrying the burden of the audience's projections and fears, striding believably between the world of impending destiny versus absolute free will. Rebecca Marshall, as Bell, contributes depth to the film, embodying the tension between public ambition and private desire. Barry Finnegan as Scott provides necessary comic relief and emotional realism, grounding the film as it strays into heavy philosophical territory.

Altogether, Life Tracker from 2013 is not just another run-of-the-mill sci-fi movie; it's an emotionally stirring, dramatically exciting, and intellectually stimulating journey that makes you look inward and question the universe outside. With its intriguing premise, well-rounded characters, emotionally engaged performances, and thought-provoking narrative, it's a must-watch film for fans of indie sci-fi drama. It leaves viewers questioning much about life, destiny, and how far science should be allowed to pry into our future, ultimately proving that sometimes, not knowing can be a blessing.