Frequency (2000 film)

Did You Know?

• Two weeks before its release, a sneak preview of Frequency was shown in Final Destination.
• Frequency was released on DVD on October 31, 2000 and on VHS on April 3, 2001.
• The film was later released on Blu-ray on July 10, 2012 by Warner Home Video.

Plot

In 1969, firefighter Frank Sullivan dies on duty, leaving his wife Julia and young son John. Thirty years later, John is an NYPD detective struggling with emotional openness. An atmospheric phenomenon reactivates a broken radio in John's home, allowing him to talk to Frank in 1969. John warns Frank about the fatal accident, and Frank avoids it. John then remembers Frank dying of lung cancer in 1989, so he tells Frank to quit smoking. Changing history causes unintended side effects: Frank's survival leads Julia to unknowingly save the life of a serial killer called the Nightingale, who now murders 11 victims including Julia, versus four in the original timeline. John shares the Nightingale case with Frank, who saves some victims in 1969, but the killer steals Frank's driver's license and plants it on a victim. Frank passes fingerprint evidence from 1969 to 1999 to help John identify the Nightingale as NYPD detective Jack Shepard. Frank is arrested by his friend Det. Satch DeLeon but escapes after predicting details of the 1969 World Series. He breaks into Shepard's apartment, finds trophies, and fights Shepard, who falls into a river. Satch exonerates Frank, but Shepard is not found. Frank returns home, where both he and John are attacked by separate versions of Shepard. Frank shoots off Shepard's hand in 1969, causing the hand to vanish in 1999. History changes, and a living Frank appears in 1999 to kill Shepard, resolving both timelines.

Production

The film was greenlit on January 21, 1999. Sylvester Stallone was rumored for the role of Frank Sullivan in 1997 but dropped out over a fee dispute. Renny Harlin was rumored as director. Gregory Hoblit first read the script in November 1997, eighteen months after his father's death. He described the film as high risk, as it had been passed among several directors, including one with twice his budget. Hoblit chose Dennis Quaid as an experienced actor for Frank Sullivan. Most filming took place in Toronto, with some location shooting in New York City.

Reception

Frequency opened at 2,631 theaters, earning $9 million in its first weekend and ranking third behind U-571 and The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas. It grossed $45 million domestically and $23.1 million internationally, totaling $68,106,245. On Rotten Tomatoes, 127 reviews gave a 70% approval rating with an average of 6.5/10; the consensus called it a tight blend of surprises and suspense. Metacritic assigned a score of 67 out of 100 from 32 critics, indicating generally favorable reviews. CinemaScore audiences gave an average grade of A-. Roger Ebert found the plot contrived but gave a favorable review, noting similarities to The Sixth Sense and Ghost. David Armstrong of the San Francisco Chronicle praised the radio conversations but criticized the unintentionally funny climax, while lauding Shawn Doyle's performance as the Nightingale. Todd McCarthy of Variety highlighted the palpable bond between Quaid and Caviezel despite their physical separation, and noted the serial killer subplot as desperately familiar. James Berardinelli gave two stars out of four, criticizing the coincidence-laden climax but praising a few nice performances. The American Radio Relay League assisted with technical aspects, though some ham radio enthusiasts noted errors. The film was nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, losing to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The ending song When You Come Back to Me Again, written by Jenny Yates and Garth Brooks and performed by Brooks, was nominated for a Golden Globe but lost to Things Have Changed from Wonder Boys.

Television adaptations

A TV adaptation was discussed in late 2014, with Supernatural showrunner Jeremy Carver producing and original writer Toby Emmerich involved. NBC declined, but The CW ordered a pilot in early 2016. The series lasted one season, ending in May 2017. A Reno 911 episode parodied the film: officers responding to a house fire spoil the plot of a homeowner's novel—which matches Frequency—making him indifferent to saving it.