Summit Entertainment’s recent science fiction thriller, “Source Code”, didn’t fail to impress. A blockbuster success in its opening weekend, director Duncan Jones’ film features an outstanding cast featuring Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, and Vera Farmiga.

Despite its sci-fi label, Source Code, is definitely a film that would appeal to all sorts of moviegoers, not just the typical sci-fi and action fans. It is in no way one of those “good guy defeats the bad guy, the end” movies, which we all have seen time and time again.

The film starts off with a confused  Cpt. Colter Stevens, (played by Gyllenhaal), living in someone else’s body, not knowing where he is. However, as the film progresses, Stevens learns that it’s his duty to find a bomb on the train that is a threat to everyone’s lives. The catch is that every time he fails, he is sent back in time to retry his mission through the “source code.”

The common theme is that each attempt he is given 8 minutes and every time he learns a little more about fellow train passenger, Christina (Monaghan), and he soon befriends her. After each failed attempt, Stevens is sent back to a mysterious portal in which he soon questions what is real and what is not and if he even is in reality. His questions are answered by a mysterious government worker named Cpt. Colleen Goodwin (Farmiga).

Throughout the film, the viewer is able to connect easily with Stevens and understand his strategy and the enormous pressure placed upon him to “find the bomb and find the bomber.” However as the film wears on, the uncertainty about the ending still lingers on and the viewer, who is anxiously waiting to see whether if all will be lost or saved when time runs out on Cpt. Stevens.

Unlike many sci-fi films, Source Code, blends together a contemporary and futuristic setting, but doesn’t really lean on one side or the other. The technology the U.S. government controls creates a second dimension to this world, which is futuristic, yet impossible. On the other hand, the U.S. is still involved in the War in Afghanistan, but a specific year is not identified.

What makes “Source Code” a must-see in the theatres or at home is its truly unpredictable ending that has its sudden twists and turns as the film reaches its climax. Along the way, we learn more about the backgrounds of Stevens and Christina and what their roles entail in the movie.

When the credits appear on screen, there are more questions than answers to be asked, which provide us with the “what if?” twist to the ending. This sort of ending adds more meaning to the film and we are left thinking about the film in our heads rather than thinking about what to do next.

This movie most certainly has a general appeal to all males and females ages 13 and older.  I give it an 8.5 out of 10.