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Ticking Clock

Ticking Clock is a 2011 American mystery sci-fi action thriller film directed by Ernie Barbarash, starring Cuba Gooding Jr. as an investigative reporter who uncovers a serial killer's journal and races to prevent future murders. The film features a supporting cast including Neal McDonough as the primary antagonist, alongside Danielle Nicolet and Yancey Arias in key roles. Written by John Turman and produced by the Motion Picture Corporation of America, Ticking Clock was released directly to video on January 4, 2011, with a runtime of 101 minutes and an R rating for bloody violence, grisly images, and language. The film received mixed audience reception, earning an IMDb user rating of 5.3 out of 10 based on 3,604 votes and a 32% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes from over 500 ratings, as of November 2025, with praise for its plot twists but criticism for uneven acting and pacing. No major awards were nominated for the production, which exemplifies the straight-to-DVD thriller genre popular in the early 2010s.

Synopsis

Plot

Lewis Hicks, an investigative reporter, discovers a journal left at a that details a series of , including predictions of future killings. The journal belongs to a known as Keech, and Hicks soon witnesses the brutal of his girlfriend, Vicki, which matches one of the entries exactly. As the only evidence, Hicks retains a torn piece of Keech's coat stained with blood, but dismiss his claims due to his personal connection to the victim and his reputation for sensational reporting. Determined to uncover the truth, Hicks embarks on his own investigation into Keech, leading to intense chases through the streets of Baton Rouge and confrontations in abandoned warehouses where Keech demonstrates and evasion tactics. During these encounters, Hicks learns that Keech possesses a sophisticated time-travel device resembling a , allowing him to jump backward in time to specific moments and alter events, though each intervention creates temporal paradoxes that perpetuate a rather than resolving his trauma. Keech's motive stems from a desire to erase his abusive childhood by targeting individuals who harmed him, such as his neglectful mother and the district attorney who placed him in foster care. The plot's central twist reveals that Keech is the future adult version of James, a 9-year-old boy whom Hicks befriends while tracing leads to a local . Played by as young James, the boy confides in Hicks (portrayed by Cuba Gooding Jr.) about his difficult life and dreams of changing the past, unknowingly mirroring Keech's obsessions. As Hicks pieces together the connections, he realizes that Keech's time jumps have trapped him in a , where each attempt only reinforces the events that shaped his tragic origins. In a climactic rooftop confrontation, Keech accidentally kills the young James, erasing himself from existence and breaking the temporal cycle, restoring the victims—including Vicki—to life as the paradoxes resolve. The film concludes with the victims alive and the young James spared from his abusive future, having been removed from his home.

Cast

The principal cast of Ticking Clock features an ensemble led by as Lewis Hicks, a determined investigative reporter who stumbles upon evidence of a serial killer's plans. portrays Keech, the enigmatic antagonist employing unconventional methods in his crimes. plays Polly, Hicks' supportive colleague at the news station. Supporting roles include as James, a vulnerable young connected to the unfolding mystery. Yancey Arias appears as Detective Ed Beker, a investigating the killings. Dane Rhodes takes on the part of Detective Gordon, providing additional police perspective in the narrative. is cast as Gina Hicks, Lewis's personal confidante amid the chaos. Adrianne Frost plays Vicki Ihrling, a character whose life intersects with Hicks' probe into the dangers at hand. Other minor roles, such as staff and additional , are filled by actors including Edrick Browne as Detective Maddox and Veronica Berry as Felicia Carson, contributing to the story's ensemble depth without overshadowing the leads.

Production

Development

The screenplay for Ticking Clock was penned by John Turman as an original script, drawing on conventions involving urgent investigations and psychological tension. Development on the project officially began in 2009, marking the start of efforts to assemble the creative team and secure resources for this independent . Ernie Barbarash was attached to direct, leveraging his prior experience helming efficient, low-budget action-thrillers like and , which aligned with the film's modest scope and fast-paced narrative demands. Producers and Todd Williams took on key roles, coordinating financing through independent backers to bring the story to fruition without major studio involvement. Their efforts focused on practical production elements, including revisions to Turman's script to emphasize achievable effects for the story's high-stakes sequences. The phase progressed swiftly, with the project greenlit in fall 2009 and initial casting calls underway in late 2009; was cast in the lead role shortly after Barbarash's attachment, setting the stage for . By August 2010, had wrapped, allowing for the release. This timeline reflected the efficient planning typical of independent genre films, prioritizing thematic depth around cycles of and personal reckoning within a of $6 million for action-oriented visuals.

Filming

Principal photography for Ticking Clock commenced on October 7, 2009, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and lasted for several weeks. The production relocated to Baton Rouge primarily to take advantage of the state's generous film tax incentives, including a 25% base production tax credit, which helped offset costs for out-of-state filmmakers, as well as the city's diverse urban environments suitable for the thriller's investigative and action sequences. Filming utilized various sites across Baton Rouge, including downtown streets for chase and pursuit scenes, the for key interior and exterior shots, and local warehouses and interiors to depict murder and orphanage settings. Green screen technology was employed sparingly for the film's elements, keeping minimal to align with the production's constraints. The $6 million budget influenced the shooting approach, emphasizing practical stunts and location-based action over extensive , particularly in low-light and high-intensity sequences. Cinematographer Phil Parmet captured the film's gritty tone through dynamic handheld camerawork and rapid editing in action beats, contributing to the fast-paced narrative flow. No major on-set incidents, such as weather disruptions, were reported during the shoot.

Release

Distribution

Ticking Clock was released directly to DVD and in the United States on January 4, 2011, by , bypassing a theatrical run as a typical low-budget production from . The decision aligned with the film's modest scale, produced for an estimated in the low millions, positioning it for the home entertainment market rather than competing in the crowded theatrical action-thriller landscape. With a finalized running time of 101 minutes optimized for home viewing, Inc. had secured global distribution rights earlier that year following completion in August 2010, enabling a rapid turnaround from filming wrap to release. The film had no theatrical premiere or festival screenings, instead targeting video rental and streaming platforms to reach thriller enthusiasts. Promotional efforts were limited but included an official trailer distributed by Sony Pictures, which highlighted the serial killer premise and star Cuba Gooding Jr. to leverage his established fanbase in the genre. International rollout followed soon after, with a DVD release in the United Kingdom on January 10, 2011, and subsequent availability in markets such as Germany on March 24, 2011, emphasizing select regions for home media penetration.

Home media

Ticking Clock was released on DVD in Region 1 () on January 4, 2011, by , in a standard format (1.78:1 ) with 5.1 audio. The edition included no substantial special features, such as director commentary or deleted scenes, though it featured pre-menu trailers. managed the DVD rollout following the strategy. The film also received a Region 2 (United Kingdom) DVD release on January 10, 2011, in PAL format with English audio and subtitles in languages including , Italian, and Spanish for non-English markets. A Blu-ray edition followed concurrently with the Region 1 DVD on January 4, 2011, offering the same presentation but upgraded to 5.1 for enhanced sound quality. Like the DVD, the Blu-ray contained minimal extras, limited to trailers. No special collector's editions or subsequent Blu-ray upgrades were issued. Digital availability began in 2011 on platforms including iTunes and Amazon Video, aligning with the physical launch. By later years, the film expanded to additional streaming services such as Tubi (free with ads) and Amazon Prime Video, with options for rental or purchase on Apple TV and Google Play. International digital releases included subtitled versions in Spanish and French. As a direct-to-video title, home media sales were modest, typical for the genre without widespread theatrical promotion.

Reception

Critical response

Ticking Clock received mixed to negative reviews from s, with limited professional coverage due to its release. On , the film holds an audience score of 32% based on over 500 ratings, as of November 2025, while the Tomatometer lacks a owing to insufficient reviews (only one recorded). On , it has a user rating of 5.3 out of 10 from 3,604 votes, reflecting modest audience engagement. Critics frequently highlighted the film's predictable plot and underdeveloped elements, centered around a mysterious that enables the killer's escapes. awarded it 2 out of 5 stars, describing it as a "cliché-ridden" with an "insulting ending" and weak logic in its time manipulation conceit. Similarly, rated it "Rent It," criticizing the unsatisfying conclusion that "breaks internal logic" and the lack of sustained thrills after an initially intriguing setup. Reviewers noted sparse amid the action, with one calling it "gory when not kooky" but unbalanced in tone. Thematic critiques focused on the mishandling of paradoxes, which felt contrived and unresolved, alongside clichés common to low-budget thrillers like overreliance on chases and revelations. Some commentary touched on undertones of in the killer's , but found the social elements superficial and overshadowed by plot holes. Cuba Gooding Jr.'s lead drew mixed praise in circles for its expressiveness, though often critiqued as phoned-in amid the script's demands. Audience reception showed a slight divide from critics, with fans appreciating the action sequences and twist ending despite the panning, viewing it as a serviceable entry rather than a standout .

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